Jimi Benson Rewards Excellence, Treat 420 Ikorodu Public School Pupils to Christmas Shopping, Cinema Experience
By Emmanuel Daniji
In a deliberate effort to reward merit, stimulate healthy academic competition and reinforce his long-standing investment in education, the Member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, on Monday, December 15, 2025, sponsored a Christmas Shopping and Hangout for outstanding pupils from public primary schools across Ikorodu Division.
The event, held at Sinomart Mall inside The Palms Shopping Mall, Victoria Island, brought together 420 pupils and about 50 teachers from government-owned primary schools across the constituency, creating a festive atmosphere of learning, motivation and celebration.
Unlike conventional giveaways, the beneficiaries were selected through a structured, performance-based process. From each participating primary school, the best-performing pupils in Primary One through Primary Six were selected strictly based on their academic results for the year. In addition, the overall best pupil from each school was also chosen, ensuring that excellence was recognised across all learning levels and that every school had multiple representatives.
The day began with a cinema experience for the pupils, complete with popcorn and soft drinks. For many of the children, it was their first-ever visit to a cinema and their first leisure outing beyond Ikorodu, making the experience both memorable and inspiring.
The highlight of the outing followed immediately after, as each pupil received shopping vouchers personally sponsored by Rep. Benson, giving them the freedom to shop for items of their choice at Sinomart Mall. Teachers who accompanied the pupils were also appreciated with shopping vouchers, in recognition of their role in nurturing academic excellence and shaping young minds.
Speaking on behalf of the federal lawmaker, the Director-General of iCare Foundation, Mayor Deen Sawoola, explained that the Christmas Shopping and Hangout was intentionally designed to celebrate excellence, motivate pupils to aim higher and inspire others to embrace diligence, discipline and consistency in their studies.
He disclosed that the initiative would be sustained as an annual tradition, reinforcing the message that hard work and academic distinction are recognised and rewarded.
The programme also enjoyed strong grassroots and institutional support. Chairmen of the six Local Government and Local Council Development Areas within Ikorodu Federal Constituency further boosted the initiative by financially topping up the shopping vouchers allocated to pupils from their respective councils.
At the convergence point in Ikorodu, the Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, Mayor Ameen Olawale Apanishile; Ikorodu West LCDA Chairman, Chief Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju; Ijede LCDA Chairman, Mrs. Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba; and Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA Chairman, Omo’ba Hammed Ọlálékan Aroyewun, joined the pupils and teachers, standing in for their colleagues who were unavoidably absent and further lifting the morale of the young beneficiaries.
The Education Secretary of the Ikorodu Local Government Education Authority (LGEA), Alhaji Taiwo Odumbo, described the initiative as timely and transformative, noting that it aligns with his long-standing advocacy for a balanced approach to education.
According to him, education should not be confined to cognitive learning alone but must also address the affective and psychomotor domains to ensure holistic development. He stressed that exposing pupils to experiences outside the classroom helps build confidence, broaden perspectives and prepare public school pupils to compete favourably with their counterparts in private schools.
Alhaji Odumbo praised Rep. Benson for his people-centred approach to leadership, noting that the lawmaker’s commitment extends beyond infrastructure to directly impacting young lives through education-focused and welfare-driven interventions.
He further highlighted the inclusive nature of the programme, which brought together pupils, teachers, LGEA officials and key education stakeholders, describing it as a moment of collective pride for public primary education in Ikorodu.
Following the shopping exercise, both pupils and teachers were treated to packaged meals, further adding to the festive spirit of the day.
Many of the pupils described the outing as unforgettable, expressing excitement at watching a movie in a cinema for the first time and choosing their own items during the shopping exercise.
The Christmas Shopping and Hangout once again underscores Rep. Babajimi Benson’s consistent emphasis on education, youth development and merit-based encouragement, reinforcing his people-centred representation across Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
