Emotions rose as one of the father of a beneficiary expressed his gratitude to the management of RedStar Express Plc for the annual scholarship awarded to Esther Anyim, his daughter an SS3 student of Ikeja Senior Grammar School and eight other students, saying that scholarship has reaffirmed his faith in public schools.
In its 13th edition of scholarship offerings, one of Nigeria’s logistics company, RedStar Express, has embarked on a mentorship programme for students under its scholarship. Under this arrangement, some of its top management staff members were selected as mentors to nine scholars from public schools in the area under the Red Star Foundation Scholarship scheme.
This was reiterated by the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Sola Obabori, at the 2016 Red Star Foundation’s annual scholarship programme in which the company demonstrated its core values in its Corporate Social Responsibilities for the benefit of its immediate community in particular and the society in general.
Some of the management staff selected as mentors are; the Assistant General Manager (AGM) Operations and Services, Inemesit James-Okoro; AGM Sales Mudi Okumagba; The HOS RSE, Kayode Agbe; The Company Secretary, Frances Akpomuka; Manager, Domestics OPS, Jaiye Olafeso; Manager, Billing unit, Anna Okumagba; Group Treasury Manager, Funmi Odubonojo; RSE Accountant, Valentine Onyibo and RSL Accountant, Tunji Ojedokun.
According to Obabori, “the primary role is to provide guidance and support to the scholars based on his or her unique developmental needs. At different points in the relationship, the mentors will give advice and guidance, share ideas, and provide feedback, identify resources to help mentee enhance personal development and career growth and provide quarterly reports on achievements and academic performance scholars”.
“The company organizes the annual scholarship programme in collaboration with its host community, Oshodi Local Government, the Schools’ Officials and University of Lagos Consult. The scholarship programme started in 2004. It is now in its 13th edition and it has been expanded to Kano and Port Harcourt”.
“From inception to date, there has been 97 beneficiaries of the Foundation across Nigeria. Nine students from four senior secondary schools in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government are currently are currently benefitting from the annual scholarship to the tune of N50, 000 each per annum for their school uniforms, books and other physical needs till they graduate from senior secondary school”.
“To ensure continuity of scholarship, students must demonstrate continuous academic excellence throughout the duration of the scholarship and show exemplary character and integrity,” he stated.
The sole administrator of Oshodi-Isolo local government, Hon. Taoheed Adebayo speaking on behalf of the local government, commended Red Star Express for selecting some of its top management staff members as mentors to nine scholars from public schools in the area under the Red Star Foundation Scholarship scheme.
Hon. Taoheed noted that RedStar Express is one of the few companies in Lagos that has been consistent with the scholarship programme which is in line with his administration’s educational policies and commitments. “In the last four months, we have developed the educational sector. We made provisions for 15,000 uniforms for students. We have improved public libraries and its open for use now.”, he said.
The Assistant General Manager (AGM) Operations and Services, Inemesit James-Okoro, shared her experience as a mentor to one of the scholars, Queen Akuma under her tutelage in 2004. According to her, “Mentoring her was a big challenge but at the end of the day, the girl is a success story.
“Her family was not well off. There were times they could not meet her educational needs. I was her mentor and was there for her. She left secondary school and went to the university. I was still in touch with her. Today she works with a multinational company in Lekki. It turned out to be a success story”, she revealed.
