By Mumini AbdulKareem
Immediate past Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has expressed readiness to support a 16-year-old female student of Bishop Smith Memorial College, Ilorin, Kwara State, who repairs motorbikes and generators for a living.
Toyin lost her father last year while her mother left her and her siblings after breaking up with their late father who operated a mechanic workshop.
Toyin, an SS2 student and second child in the family subsequently took over the father’s workshop and began fixing motorbikes and generators to cater for herself, siblings and aged grandmother.
Worried by her plight and that of her family members after reading their story on social media, Saraki reached out to the girl and her family and pledged support to help her achieve her dreams.
Towards this end, the Director, Community Impact of the
Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation, Mallam Otukoko Olayinka Ibrahim and some members of the Foundation visited Toyin at her workshop on Wednesday.
Otukoko described Toyin as “a hardworking and determined Nigerian who has shown the desire to further her education to the tertiary level and pursue a career in Mechanical Engineering.”
He explained that the visit which was at the instance of Saraki was meant to discuss with her and determine how best to assist her and her struggling family.
He said supporting the less privileged and empowering young people to achieve their dreams are among the objectives of the ABS Foundation.
Otukoko, therefore, expressed the readiness of the Foundation to support Toyin achieve her dream of furthering her education and nurture a career in Mechanical Engineering in line with her passion.
The ABS Foundation team also visited Toyin’s grandmother and donated some relief items to her.
Saraki who later spoke to the aged woman via a WhatsApp video call, assured that he is ready to assist youths especially from Kwara State to fulfill their potentials adding that Toyin has displayed the resilient spirit inherent in most youths in the state which should be emulated by others faced with similar challenging situations.
She further prayed for the former Senate President and also appreciated him for seeking to talk to and assist her family.
