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Where Students Don’t Pay School Fees
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Where Students Are Given Free Laptops
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And The Founder Teaches Students
A few days ago, a City People Magazine team, led by its Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, SEYE KEHINDE visited Oba Adedokun Abolarin, the Orangun of Oke Ila at his palace.
Once the courtesy call was done with, Kabiyeesi led the team to his college which everyone is talking about right now. It is a unique kind of school. In Oke Ilaoragun, Osun State, Abolarin College stands out as a source of hope for many, founded by the visionary Oba Adedokun Abolarin. Established in 2014, this institution was driven by a profound commitment to provide quality education free of charge to underprivileged students across Nigeria.
Oba Abolarin’s mission is rooted in the belief that Education is the key to empowerment and leadership. The college started with 35 children but today, Abolarin College has 135 students, many of who come from states as diverse as Plateau, Akwa Ibom, and Borno. Among the school’s notable achievements, 51 students have received full scholarships to universities, with 21 attending Adeleke University, thanks to the generosity of Sir Adedeji Adeleke.
This initiative goes beyond academics; it is a sanctuary for those in need, including children from correctional facilities who have inspiring stories. The school not only focuses on education but also on developing a sense of responsibility and purpose in its students, preparing them to be the future leaders of Nigeria.
The support from philanthropic minded friends has been the sustenance of this noble cause. Many of the Obas close associates contribute regularly to ensure that the vision of Abolarin College can continue to thrive. Oba Abolarin passionately believes that Nigerians are eager to contribute to causes that uplift society.
Guided by the biblical principles found in Isaiah 58:10-12, which speak of compassion and restoration, Oba Abolarin emphasizes that nation-building is a collective effort. His clarion call is for everyone to take part in restoring hope to the hopeless.
“We will not allow our background to put our back to the ground,” he insists on instilling pride and resilience in his students. Abolarin College is the first of its kind, it embodies the belief that every child deserves a chance to rise above their circumstances.
Oba Abolarin’s commitment to leadership and education is unwavering. He personally trains his pupils to become future leaders, imbibing a sense of responsibility and purpose in them. Supported by philanthropic friends, Oba Abolarin emphasizes that Nigerians are always eager to contribute to noble causes.
Oba Abolarin invites others to join him in restoring hope to the hopeless and dedicating themselves to service.
With a mission to ensure that every child recognizes education as the key to their future, he instills a sense of pride in his students, encouraging them to rise above their circumstances.
Let’s tell you a lot more about Oba Adedokun Abolarin who was born on September 24, 1958 into the Obasolo Ruling House, one of the three ruling houses in Òkè-Ìlá-Òràngún, Ifedayo Local Government area of Osun State.
He obtained his First Degree in Political Science from the University of Ife (formerly University of Ife). Upon completion of his mandatory one-year service, he took up a lecturing job at the now defunct Oyo State College of Arts and Science (OSCAS), Ile-Ife, where he taught Government as a subject.
His teaching prowess endeared him to all students that even those in other disciplines will sneak into his classroom to hear him teach. He went back to the University to pick up a Law Degree and after leaving the Nigerian Law school, he set up his own practice. He later moved to Abuja and became the legal adviser to Senator Anyim Pius Ayim, the then Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Until his installation, the new Òràngún of Òkè-Ìlá, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, a professional lawyer licensed to practice law in the Supreme Court of Nigeria, was the principal partner of Dokun Abolarin & Co., a firm of Solicitors and Legal Consultants, which had served as Company Secretary to various corporations among whom are Tell Publications (Publishers of Tell Magazine), Pacific Holdings, Peachtree Communications Ltd, Sportsmark International and Springtime Development Foundation.
Oba Adedokun Abolarin is an academic authority on Nigerian government and politics having researched and written on the period from the 1914 amalgamation to recent times, in which he evaluated component elements of federal, regional/state, and local government administration, analyzed Nigerian foreign policy, political parties and pressure groups. As is traditional among the Yoruba for a new king or monarch, Oba Adedokun Abolarin chose at his installation the “reign name” Aroyinkeye I, translating as “one who finds honey to tend the title”.
Citizens of this ancient Igbomina-Yoruba kingdom across Nigeria, and especially Europe and the Americas often express their thrill and excitement at the prospect of the development which the well-educated king promises for the city and its satellite towns.
Oba Abolarin was the former Chairman of the Osun State Council of Arts and Culture. He is also a member of the 15-member committee of the Osun State Directorate of Amotekun (a security network based in all the six States of Western Nigeria, which is responsible for curbing insecurity in the Region)
Oba Abolarin is the Founder of Abolarin College, Oke-Ila-Orangun, State of Osun, a school set up to fight poverty through education and strictly for indigent students of Nigeria. He is also a member of the college’s teaching staff and he teaches Government as a subject to Senior Secondary students, who he also instructs on styles and etiquette.
Kabiyesi has contributed to the improvement of lives of people within and outside his domain. His culture of teaching, counselling and mobilizing everyone for civic responsibilities can never be overemphasized.
–Promise Babatunde
