Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams has restated his com­mitment to raising the stan­dard of education in Nigeria.

Speaking at his 53rd birthday anniversary where he played host to prominent dignitaries in Ikeja, Lagos, Iba Adams stat­ed that it has been his dream to support brilliant and indigent students across Nigeria.

The Yoruba generalissi­mo also disclosed that he had been offering scholarships to the best students in the tertia­ry institutions for the past five years, especially during the annual birthday celebration.

He added that such a ges­ture had also helped the ben­eficiaries in securing a better future for the students.

“We started the initiative under the Aareonakakanfo Scholarship Award and the intention is to give the little I have in the form of a donation to the educational develop­ment of the students that are brilliant in their respective disciplines across the south­west and beyond.

“Each of the students is en­titled to a certain amount of money and over the years, the feedback has been awesome.

“It is my own way of giv­ing back to society. We say the young ones are the future of tomorrow, yet we didn’t give them the opportunity to grow, the educational standard drops by the day, and many of the Ni­gerian youths are now involved in uncomplimentary deals.

“Looking at the bleak fu­ture, I have decided to change the ugly narratives by seeking the best way to raise the stan­dard of education in the coun­try and offer the youth and the students the best through this initiative.

“Our education sector is comatose, the future is bleak and there is an urgent need for intervention that is why we need to intervene and I am happy that I rise to the occasion at this critical time to salvage the ugly situation in the education sector.

“The four brilliant students from four tertiary institutions to be awarded this year are: Akinsanya Ganiyat Adedo­yin, from Lagos state univer­sity, Samad Abidemi Abdul Hamid, from Kwara state university, Khadijat Oladip­upo, from the University of Ibadan, and Adegbite Victo­ria, from Olabisi Onabanjo University.”

“We have their datas and that of the previous beneficiaries so that we can monitor their progress at every point in time.

“It is my joy and my heavenly spirit usually aligns with helping the poor.”

Speaking about the birthday ceremony, Iba Adams stated further that it is an annual event that has become a tradition.

He added: “People all over the world come together to celebrate with me on the special occasion.

“That is how it has always been in the past 25 years.

“Every year, I gather people from all walks of life to rejoice and celebrate with me on the special occasion of my birthday.

“It is a special day for me and I am always happy to see how people come from all over the world to celebrate with me.”

Prominent royal fathers, business tycoons, eminent personalities, and dignitaries from Nigeria and abroad were present at the event.