Lawmaker representing Lagos Mainland Constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rasheed Shabi, on Friday, distributed back-to-school kits and financial rewards to students in his constituency.

At an event held at Lagos City Model College Hall, Sabo, Yaba, Mr Shabi presented iPads, schoolbags, and books to selected students, while 24 others received cash prizes of N100,000, N75,000, and N50,000 for outstanding performance in the 2025 summer coaching examinations.

The annual coaching, which Mr Shabi has sponsored for years, ran for six weeks during the long vacation and had more than 1,275 JSS3 and SS3 students participating across four centres in the constituency. It also included skill acquisition sessions.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Shabi urged the students to be diligent and committed to their studies, stressing that education remained the surest path to success.

“Every child deserves equal access to learning opportunities. These kits will ease the financial burden on parents and motivate students to take their studies seriously,” he said.

The lawmaker disclosed that a bank had been invited to open accounts for the cash beneficiaries to ensure transparency and proper use of the funds. He also pledged to distribute free Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms in 2026 as part of his continued investment in the youth.

The event witnessed emotional moments as some students and parents shed tears of joy. Fathia Musa, a beneficiary from Mainland Senior High School, Fadeyi, who received N100,000, said the support would greatly ease her academic journey. Her mother, a cleaner, also expressed gratitude for the gesture.

Another parent, Mrs. Joy Anigbogu, whose daughter won N50,000 in the junior category, described the assistance as a blessing for families struggling to provide learning tools for their children.

Shabi’s wife, Kadijat Shabi, also supported the initiative by distributing free uniforms to 100 male and female students from 10 schools. She urged parents to monitor their children’s activities.

In his remarks, Olawale Oshun, leader of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos Mainland Constituency 2, commended Mr Shabi for his consistent support for education.

Coordinator of the programme, Tunde Ajayi, listed the summer coaching centres as Lagos City College, Yaba; Onike Girls, Iwaya; Eletu Odibo Senior School, Abule Oja; and Mainland Senior Secondary School, Fadeyi.