By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Chairman of Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Comrade Lasisi Akinsanya, has distributed free Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms to 500 students resident in the council area, reports thegazellenews.com
The distribution, held on Thursday, 19 February, 2026, at the council secretariat, was aimed at reducing the financial burden on families and widening access to tertiary education.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Akinsanya described the initiative as a deliberate investment in the future of young people and the nation.
“This occasion is very important because it has to do with the leaders of this country. You are not leaders of tomorrow; you are leaders of today,” the chairman said. Citing a Yoruba adage, he added, “There is an adage in Yoruba that says, ‘Oba lo la kin joba.’ If they call you leaders of tomorrow, reject it. You are leaders of this great nation.”
He explained that the programme was driven by the council’s resolve to promote education and provide meaningful opportunities for youths.
According to him, the initiative was conceived not only to support academic pursuits but also to steer young people away from negative influences.
“It is borne out of passion for our youths and to ensure that we have our youths educated and also to take them out of the streets,” he stated.
Reflecting on his personal experience, Akinsanya emphasised the role of education in leadership and self-development.
“I became the council chairman because I acquired the prerequisite for education. If I did not have the qualifications and the capacity to make decisions, I might not be here today as your council chairman and chief servant,” he said.
He urged the students to make the most of the opportunity, stressing the need for diligence and focus.
“Never take this opportunity for granted. It is very important you study very well so that you can make your papers at once. I will be glad to welcome you all back here when you must have secured your admission,” he added.
Expressing confidence in their potential, the chairman told the beneficiaries, “Among you we have ministers, chief justices and doctors. Take your education passionately, because it is the bedrock of what will take you to your destination in life.”
One of the beneficiaries, who spoke at the event, expressed appreciation to the council chairman, describing the gesture as timely. She highlighted the difficulties many prospective candidates face in obtaining UTME forms through unofficial channels.
“The official price of JAMB forms is ₦8,300, but when we got to some centres, we were given prices of ₦30,000, ₦50,000 and above. In light of this, my father said I should not write JAMB this year,” she said.
She noted that the council’s intervention restored her hope.
“I was tired of sitting at home doing nothing. Immediately I heard about this, I quickly showed interest. To my surprise, my name was among the beneficiaries. Many local governments around us do not have such initiatives,” she added.
Akinsanya, meanwhile, said the free UTME scheme forms part of his administration’s broader agenda, which prioritises education, health and infrastructure. He maintained that the council remained mindful of the economic realities confronting many residents.
“We are not unaware that some of our people do not have the financial capacity of obtaining these JAMB forms for their children. It would be too bad of us as a government to pretend as if we are not aware of this problem,” he said.
He added that the programme would be sustained and improved upon.
“That is why we have made it a point of agenda that whenever these forms are available, indigent children will be supported so that they will not be deprived of education. We are encouraged that the recipients are happy, and this is a turning point for us to continue and even improve more on what we are doing,” he stated.
Responding to questions on whether the initiative was politically motivated, the chairman dismissed the claim, attributing the programme to empathy and personal conviction.
“I myself was not born with a silver spoon. I know where the shoe pinches. That is why I have made it a point of duty to do everything possible to ensure that indigent children do not lack in terms of education. Our administration will not relent in its efforts,” he said.
On youth involvement in drug abuse and other social vices, Akinsanya said the council had intensified collaboration with relevant agencies to address the challenge.
“We believe that with the presence of security agencies in our midst, the issue of drugs and other vices will be reduced. They have been going about arresting those who engage in illicit activities, and we will continue to support them,” he added.
