Ark of Solace
My name is Lasisi Adejoke, currently a third-year student at Lagos State University, Nigeria. I got to know about The Ark of Solace Foundation through Mr. Olusegun Afolabi.
When I met him a few years ago, I was a teacher in a private primary school in Lagos earning next to nothing. My qualification was a Senior Secondary School Certificate. While doing that job, I desired to go into the University even though the how was not in sight due to some constraint which finances was one of them.
At some point, I was at the verge of quitting the idea of going into the university, but thanks to the founder of The Ark of Solace Foundation who encouraged and supported me financially. He made it clear to me that nothing good ever comes easily.
With this encouragement, fortunately, I secured an admission into the Lagos State University, as expected, my family and I got faced with the reality of school fee payment because my younger sister also gained admission into the same University at the same time.
Our widowed mother became worried because she couldn’t think of the ways to save up from her petty trade. Furthermore, when I reached out to the founder of The Ark of Solace Foundation to share the good news and to let him understand how difficult this might be for the family, he wholeheartedly introduced to us The Ark of Solace Foundation (yet unborn officially for some personal reasons according to him), scholarship program which I immediately applied for following the required process. The rest is history by the grace of God.
I have been benefiting from this scholarship program from my year 1 till and currently in year three. The Foundation has supported me in diverse ways, and I give glory to God because a dream that looked daunting and almost impossible is gradually becoming a reality because someone took it upon himself to be there for me. God bless the founders and the promoters of The Ark of Solace Foundation.
My name is Lasisi Abisoye, a 300-level student of History and International Studies at the Lagos State University, Ojo. I am writing this testimonial to express my heartfelt gratitude for the generous support I have received from The Ark of Solace Foundation since my first year at school.
I learned about the Ark of Solace Foundation through my elder sister, who introduced me to the founder, Mr. Olusegun Afolabi. Although I have not had the opportunity to meet him physically, I have been a beneficiary of his kind gesture since my first year at University through a scholarship programme awarded to cover my studies from year one to the final year.
My elder sister and I gained admission at the same time in 2022, without any hope or idea of how the programmes would be funded. To cut a long story short, I have been fully supported by The Ark of Solace Foundation by someone that could go for a complete stranger. Neither myself nor my mum has seen him before. The support of the Foundation concerning my academic needs has been instrumental in my academic journey.
It has allowed me to concentrate on my studies and pursue my educational aspirations without the worry of financial constraints, creating a supportive environment where I feel empowered and confident in achieving my goals.
My name is Treasure Samuel, there was a terrible rain in Lagos on 9th July 2024 which got my house flooded. The effect was drastic and significant because it damaged everything in our room, which included my certificate, my sister’s school materials, rugs, mattress etc.
I was frustrated and confused because I didn’t know what to do. It was at this point I had the privilege to reach out to the Ark of Solace Foundation with the video of the state of our room. Immediately we got a relief that covered the cost of a new mattress, carpet and a few other stuffs we were able to replace.
I use this opportunity to say a big thank you to the Ark of Solace Foundation for standing with me and helping me when I didn’t have anyone to turn to.
A philanthropist is a person who donates time, money, experience, skills, or talent to help create a better world. I met Mr. Olusegun Afolabi, the founder of The Ark of Solace Foundation, in 2021 when I was still serving as School Manager of Alubarika Primary School, Bariga, in Shomolu Local Education Authority, Lagos State, Nigeria.
I was also the Chairperson of the Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (Shomolu Branch).
On this fateful day, Mr. Afolabi came to meet me in my office and discussed his mission on how he would love to fund the secondary school education of some intelligent pupils with humble backgrounds with me. We discussed the selection criteria across the primary schools because there were 48 public schools within the Local Government Area.I called my boss, the Education Secretary, on the phone and he gave us an appointment to meet in his office. At the meeting, we concluded to use the Common Entrance Examination and the pupils’ backgrounds as the selection parameters. One of my students was fortunate to emerge as one of the students that made the final selection, his name is Shittu Kehinde.
He is presently in his 4th year in a private secondary school (Senior Secondary School), where he is being fully sponsored by The Ark of Solace Foundation. I am incredibly thankful to the foundation and the founder for their generous grant to the learners and other pupils who benefited from this kind gesture. He pays his tuition fees, books and stationery, uniforms, lesson fees and other fees for his education, and this is the 4th year running.
It’s worth noting that the Scholarship given to Kehinde served as a turning point in his life.
Furthermore, after my retirement from service, I am still very active in monitoring the boy. This grant alleviated financial pressure on the parents.I am deeply grateful for his commitment to nurturing this little boy. It enables him to learn with ease, and he always comes out in flying colours Keep up the good work you are doing. Heartfelt thanks to a wonderful person for his wonderful thoughts and deeds. May the best in life be yours forever.