Children Day: A.G. Leventis celebrates outstanding students at Pick n Pay

A.G. Leventis Group, one of the oldest legacy companies in Nigeria, spanning over 90 years, yesterday, celebrated no fewer than 25 students in Lagos. They were given N25, 000 voucher each to pick choice items at Pick n Pay Store at Victoria Island, Lagos, for distinguishing themselves academically.

According to the Head, Public Affairs and Corporate Marketing, A.G. Leventis (Nigeria) Limited, Tunde Oyelola Jr., the students were given the special opportunity to shop for free, using exclusive vouchers.

Oyelola, who spoke in the spirit of Children’s Day celebrations, stated that May 27 of every year, “is a day dedicated to celebrating children all over the world.” He called on all to work together to build a world where every child could thrive and shine.

He said: “Yesterday’s event was dedicated to celebrating children. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the exceptional achievements of the top-performing students from selected schools within Apapa LCDA, as part of our Civic Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.

“These outstanding students, who we affectionately call our ‘AGL Star Students,’ have been recognised for their remarkable dedication and academic excellence.

“We are proud to have collaborated with our esteemed partners, AGL-STEM, and the Lagos State Ministry of Education, in providing these Star Students with an unforgettable experience.

“They were given the special opportunity to shop for free at our Pick n Pay Store, located in Victoria Island, using exclusive vouchers. This initiative, which started last year, has been tremendously popular amongst the students and schools; every one wants to become an AGL Star Student.

“We have a very active CSR space in Leventis. Over the past few years, we have been involved in the few of the state schools in Apapa LCDA, training students and giving them hope. Our CSR is education and youth development. We put our money where our mouth is. We don’t just say it, we do it too.”

Cheering A.G. Leventis over this gesture, the Director, Co-Curricular Science and Technology, Education District 5, Agboju, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Lagos, who monitored the activity at Pick n Pay said, “A.G. Leventis has been a worthy partner in many ways and have been helping our students also in many ways, especially presenting robotics kits to our children and training them as well.

“You know that we are no longer in the analogues days, we are now in digital era but they have been helping our students to move and work along with the situation in the country as it concerns digital realities. They have helped the students at Ajeromi Ifelodun, we also want to them to help us in other areas in this district because we have four zones in our district quarter.

“We want A.G. Leventis to look towards other zones like Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo and Badagry. I know in future, A.G. Leventis would go far because they have been progressing and moving forward. I also wish that some of these students would also work with them sometime in the future. As they are training them, they will be better.”

Advising the students, he said, “I want the students to learn from this gesture that Leventis group has shown to them. When they grow up too, I want them to be the people that would take the welfare of their students and those of their partners seriously in anywhere they found themselves working.

“I want to implore other companies across Nigeria and beyond to emulate what A.G. Leventis has been doing for the students, especially what it has done again by celebrating these children on their day. Kudos to AG Leventis.”

Responding to such philanthropism, a male student of Oluwa Memorial Senior Secondary School, Tolu Complex, Adekunle Adeola, expressed his gratitude to the group said, “I feel amazing because I didn’t know I was going to be here today. Coming here to pick these stuffs fully paid by AG Leventis was a great privilege for my partner and me. I thank AG Leventis for bringing us here to pick these items on Children’s Day celebration.”

In the same manner, Odi Happiness, a JSS3 female student of Ojoku Junior High School said while picking her items and rolling her articles trolley, said, “I feel very happy and thankful to God for the good opportunity to be among the selected children for this event. I also thank the host and the sponsor of the shopping voucher. May God bless them and make the prosperous in their ways.”

Still taking the path of appreciations, Abraham Joy from Reservation Senior Secondary School, Tolu Complex, Ajegunle, Lagos, said, “I am surprise that I am here picking all these because I was meant to pick for somebody who didn’t come; but see me picking for myself.

“So, for me, it’s a big privilege to be here. It’s fun; I am elated, I caught my fun. I say a big thank you to A.G. Leventis and I pray that God will bless them and help them fulfill their dreams. It’s not easy for them to take about 25 of us and spent N25, 000 on each of us. God will bless them. I am going to share whatever I have picked with my family. I thank them for this gesture.”

Also showering praises on company, a parent, Muscat Akolade, who accompanied her daughter for the exercise said she was thankful to God and A.G Leventis for their show of love and care for the children as they celebrate World Children’s Day.

“I’m happy that my daughter was selected for this N25, 000 purchase ticket which as gone a long way in stocking her (daughter) cupboards. My daughter is equally grateful and thankful to God for this day. I want A.G. Leventis succeed in everything they do.”