By Ayo Ayopo

The importance of Corporate Social responsibility by organizations cannot be underestimated. This is due to the huge investment undertaken to improve the lives of the citizens. It is pertinent to state that organization should focus on being good corporate citizens to contribute meaningfully to improve the society.

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Mrs Tokunbo Edun the Executive Director of Grace Schools located in Gbagada Lagos says the school has a strong focus in contributing its quota to the uplifttment of the society where it operates. Grace School according to demonstrates a social conscience by providing for the needs of the various schools and students it has over the years supported through its CSR initiatives.

Edun says the school is poised to support the government in improving the standard of Education in the country. This falls in line with its strategic vision to embark on initiatives to enhance quality standard of education. In her estimation, government cannot fun adequate education alone hence the need to support in terms of providing support for indigent students.

Grace schools continues to provide annual educational scholarship to indigent students to enable them have access to qualitative education regardless of their educational background. This is one area that the school becomes socially responsible by helping the less privileged in the society.

The Administrator, Mrs. Olatokunbo Edun says the award is designed to provide succor for the less privileged in the society. The annual educational scholarships to indigent students to enable them have access to qualitative education regardless of their educational background. This is one area that the school becomes socially responsible by helping the less privileged in the society. She added.

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The scholarship according to her is worth over N1million per session per session, covers tuition, books, uniforms, boarding fees and pocket money and even extends to their university education afterwards. She stated that over 30 students have benefitted from the awards since its inception in 2004 while over 100 million naira has been invested in the scheme by the school. The scholarships are from SS-SS3. The scholarship covers the tuition, boarding fees, exams fees, books, uniforms etc. for the entire duration of the senior secondary years. After that, we also support them when they leave Grace Schools and go to universities. This we do paying their university fees, accommodation and giving them a monthly stipend for the four or five years at the university. We also encourage them to do the SAT exams, which is also paid for by us. At least two of them have trough their high SAT scores won places to every reputable American universities.

The renowned educationist stated that the  award was instituted in honour the late founder of the school, Deaconess Grace Bisola Oshinowo and it has become an annual event to support the less privileged in the society. Edun says beyond passing the entrance examination, there are other parameters set to ensure transparency. One of these is that the background of the students is actually poor as the school management visits the recipient’s family before the final presentation.

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Grace Schools has donated cash and materials towards the upgrading of several schools within Gbagada environs. There was the provision of furniture (tables, chairs etc) and books to Gbagada Primary School. This has been a major activity for several years till date. Grace Schools has also been magnanimous powering the school borehole with light.

Ajidagan Primary School, Grace Schools next neighbor has also been a major beneficiary of the Corporate Social Initiatives. The School which collapsed last year was reconstructed by Grace Schools. Grace Schools also donated the play equipment being used by Ajidagan Primary School.

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SPORTS SPONSORSHIP

Beyond educational support, Grace Schools has also sponsored the sports day of several schools in Gbgagda area. Some of the schools are Idi Od primary school,Al Moroof primary school, Gbagada Primary school,Ogooluwa Primary school, Temidire primary school, Adaranijo primary school,National Primary school as well as Ajidagan Primary school.

*Ayopo is a Lagos – based journalist