PUSH NEWS INTERNATIONAL : October 3rd, 2021
At Abolarin College in Oke-Ila, Osun State, the students there pay NO school fees; enjoy free hostel, free food, free internet, free uniform, free laptop for every child, and 24 hours power supply; and all these expenses are paid by the town’s king. Push News International also learnt that the king teaches too in the school.
What makes this school remarkable is that one major criteria for getting admitted in is being poor. If your parents are rich, you cannot get admission. Unlike other schools, Abolarin College wants poor kids who are very brilliant. If you are poor but brilliant, the king will admit you!
The king believes poor brilliant kids should also be given an equal opportunity to become something in life- so that the future does not belong only to those born with silver spoons in their mouth. The king himself has a law degree and masters in law- and he also teaches in the school.
From what we gathered, the king has only one wife. Obviously, he is not using the money of the kingdom to accumulate wives or properties; instead he is investing it in the education of future leaders while he aims to reduce the burden of illiteracy in the society. For him, it doesn’t matter the religion, it is not about nepotism, neither is it restricted to Yoruba children nor only children from Oke Ila; it is about any less privileged child anywhere who is willing to be educated. That is why the only criteria for admission is poverty and brilliance.
Many of those kids previously hawked pepper, sachet water, fruits etc. Some came from farms where all they did was work under the hot sun weeding and planting. Many are orphans, hawkers, child labourers, delinquents, children of petty traders, but now they have hope, and not just hope, a future.
The Alaafin of Oyo and Ooni of Ife may have more money than this king, but in years to come, King Abolarin’s impact will take him to the echelons of greatness. What if we also have many Northern Sultans and Emir engaging in this? All across history, change begins with just a man! Dare to live differently, making an impact. It is what we do with money and our other resources that counts, for money has no value in itself!
This man is planting seeds that will blossom in the future. In the nearest years, that town will be filled with successful and accomplished people. I love this. God bless the King. This is one man that fully has my respect. We should celebrate such a Nigerian! This king is a legend and posterity will never forget him.
Push News International also researched that Oke-Ila Orangun the headquarters of Ifedayo Local Government is an ancient Yoruba town in South Western Nigeria. It is located around latitude 80, north of the equator, in a rainforest belt, with annual rainfall of more than 135cm, distributed between March and October yearly. It enjoys chilly harmattan season between November and March each year. The lavishly rich soil supports agricultural activities with tree and arable crops cultivated.
The town is situated on gentle undulating hills with free flowing rivers and water falls; all presenting their aesthetic scenery with invigorating climatic condition. To the South West of Oke-Ila Orangun, is Ila-Orangun fraternal cosmopolitan community with proven historical bond with Oke-Ila Orangun.To the North West of Oke-Ila Orangun is Ora-Igbomina, a neighbouring town in the same local government area (Ifedayo Local Government Area). To the North East of Oke-Ila Orangun are two neighbouring towns of Ipoti-Ekiti and Ikoro-Ekiti; and to the South East is Oyi-Ayegunle community.
Written evidence and oral traditions confirm the assertion that Oke-Ila Orangun people are Oduduwa children via Fagbamila Ajagunla,the renowned Orangun,who reigned at Igbo Ajagunla,the around 1050-1200 AD.Adetirin the first child and only daughter of Oduduwa was the mother of Ajagunla. Oral tradition asserts that Oba Ajagunla,enjoyed longevity and at an extremely old age, he was reported to have directed his subjects to prepare a bag made of Tiger’s skin ,inside which they packed his depreciating body; which was later defiled as he refused to die .
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