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 young people through education and sports.
The initiative was unveiled on Thursday during the fourth edition of her Back to Alma Mater Project, organised through the Olasubomi Ogundele Initiative and themed, “Empowering the Next Generation Through Education and Sports.”
A former student of Iganmode Grammar School, Ogundele also donated sports equipment, including handballs, cricket bats and complete sets of jerseys to support sports development in the school.
The initiative, which has benefited hundreds of students over the years through scholarships and the distribution of sporting materials, seeks to encourage young people to embrace both academics and sports as pathways to success.
Speaking at the event, keynote speaker and former footballer, Olayinka Adiro, stressed the importance of education in building successful careers, particularly in sports.
“Education is something no one can take away from you. It is the bedrock of life. You will face challenges, but education equips you to find solutions and opens doors that nothing else can,” Adiro said.
The University of Lagos graduate shared his personal experience, revealing that he once almost turned down an opportunity to pursue education because of a proposed football move abroad.
“An agent wanted to take me to Cyprus after secondary school, but my mother insisted that I take the JAMB examination. Eventually, I gained admission into the University of Lagos, and the transfer abroad never materialised due to the Ebola outbreak. Looking back, education became my saving grace,” he added.
Adiro urged students to embrace opportunities to learn, noting that injuries and unforeseen circumstances could abruptly end sporting careers.
Also speaking, General Secretary of Remo Stars Football Club, Michael Onikute, emphasised the importance of education in helping athletes understand contracts, communicate effectively and make informed decisions.
“Talent may take you to the top, but discipline keeps you there. Education gives athletes an advantage both on and off the pitch and helps them avoid exploitation,” Onikute said.
Grassroots football advocate and Chief Executive Officer of F8 Baller Academy, Angel Salt, encouraged parents to support children with sporting abilities by exposing them to structured sporting environments.
“If your child has sporting potential, encourage them and place them in environments where they can grow. Exposure, expression and community are key to development,” she said.
Co-founder of Alimosho Football Club, Teslim Sanni, noted that schools remain essential in nurturing complete athletes.
“One of the biggest mistakes young footballers make is believing football alone is enough. School provides an environment where children develop socially, academically and emotionally. If we don’t take sports 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 extends beyond classroom learning.
“Academic work is what you do in class, but education is broader than that. Sports itself is an education and students must take advantage of every opportunity available to them,” he said.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Ogundele expressed gratitude to her alma mater for shaping her journey and reaffirmed her commitment to giving back to the institution.
“Iganmode Grammar School is where my journey started. This edition, we gave out handballs, cricket bats and complete jerseys to the school, and I am delighted to provide scholarships to 40 students for the next one year,” she said.
The Remo Stars Ladies player added that the initiative is aimed at inspiring young people to pursue their dreams through a combination of education and sports while creating opportunities for the next generation of student-athletes.