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Remo Stars Ladies player, Olasubomi Ogundele, has awarded one-year academic scholarships to 40 students of Iganmode Grammar School, Ota, Ogun State, as part of efforts to empower youths through education and sports.
The initiative was unveiled on Thursday during the fourth edition of its Return to Alma Mater Project, organized through the Olasubomi Ogundele Initiative and with the theme “Empowering the next generation through education and sports.”
Ogundele, a former student of Iganmode Grammar School, also donated sports equipment including handball, cricket bats and complete sets of jerseys to support sports development at the school.
The initiative, which has benefited hundreds of students over the years through scholarships and the distribution of sports materials, seeks to encourage young people to embrace both academics and sports as paths to success.
Speaking at the event, keynote speaker and former footballer Olayinka Adiro highlighted the importance of education in building successful careers, particularly in sports.
“Education is something that no one can take away from you. It is the foundation of life. You will face challenges, but education prepares you to find solutions and opens doors that nothing else can,” Adiro said.
The University of Lagos graduate shared his personal experience and revealed that he once almost turned down an opportunity to continue his studies due to a proposal to move abroad for football.
“An agent wanted to take me to Cyprus after high school, but my mother insisted that I take the JAMB exam. Eventually, I gained admission to the University of Lagos, and the move abroad never materialized due to the Ebola outbreak. Looking back, education became my salvation,” he added.
Adiro urged students to take advantage of opportunities to learn, noting that injuries and unforeseen circumstances could abruptly end their athletic careers.
Also speaking, Remo Stars Football Club General Secretary Michael Onikute emphasized the importance of education to help athletes understand contracts, communicate effectively and make informed decisions.
“Talent can take you to the top, but discipline keeps you there. Education gives athletes an advantage both on and off the court and helps them avoid exploitation,” Onikute said.
Angel Salt, grassroots football advocate and CEO of F8 Baller Academy, encouraged parents to support children with sporting skills by exposing them to structured sporting environments.
“If your child has athletic potential, encourage him and place him in environments where he can grow. Exposure, expression and community are keys to development,” he said.
Alimosho Football Club co-founder Teslim Sanni noted that schools remain essential to developing well-rounded athletes.
“One of the biggest mistakes young footballers make is believing that football alone is enough. School provides an environment where children develop socially, academically and emotionally. If we don’t bring sport back to schools, we are wasting talent,” Sanni said.
Entrepreneur Dr. Bolaji also encouraged students to cultivate discipline, develop positive habits and understand that education goes beyond classroom learning.
“Academic work is what is done in class, but education is broader than that. Sport itself is an education and students should take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way,” he said.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Ogundele expressed his gratitude to his alma mater for shaping his journey and reaffirmed his commitment to giving back to the institution.
“Iganmode Grammar School is where my journey began. In this edition, we provided handballs, cricket bats and complete jerseys to the school, and I am delighted to offer scholarships to 40 students over the next year,” she said.
The Rowing Stars Ladies player added that the initiative aims to inspire young people to pursue their dreams through a combination of education and sport, while creating opportunities for the next generation of student-athletes.
