CELEBRATING ODOFIN FREE SCHOOL BUS...a free educational transport project that executed uninterrupted for seven years


Ogun State is home to the origin of Free Education and it's celebrated initiator, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

As at the time he was in office, most of the projects of Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo were not seen as much iconic. Owing to the political struggles within the Action Group party, and the 1983 Presidential Election, Baba Awolowo was easily passed as one of those politicians who are like theatrist, coming to the stage for a play of power and leaving never to be remembered. But how wrong were they who thought so, and how blessed are we who live on after Chief Awolowo.

Following the footsteps of the iconic of democracy, Hon. (Odofin) Samuel Olusola SONUGA, would later find himself towing the legacy path of his childhood hero, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, when he unprecedentedly got elected as the Honourable Member representing Ikenne State Constituency at the Ogun State House of Assembly in 2011.

Hon. Samuel Olusola SONUGA, "Odofin" as he is fondly called took off his quality representation with a free school bus scheme. The first of its kind in Ikenne State Constituency and the second of its kind in Ogun State as at the 2011-2012, was doubted as a project that will last long due to the huge financial cost and implications. But again, how wrong were they who thought so, and how blessed were the students who would later enjoy the free ride for seven good years.

For the record, some students who gained admission in JSS 1 as at 2012 when the free bus scheme kicked off, never paid a dime for transport all through their six years of secondary schooling, as they ensured daily timely routine to take the bus to and fro school for their 6 years of secondary schooling. Today, some of those students are graduates in various institutions across Nigeria while some are rounding up their tertiary studies.

Again, like Awolowo, as at his time in the Oke-Mosan legislative chambers, most of the constituency project of Honourable Odofin were not considered as iconic, even when they were the first of their kinds. Also, owing to the political struggles within the All Progressivs Congress (APC) party, and the 2023 General Elections, Odofin was easily passed as one of those politicians who are like theatrist, coming to the stage for a play of power and leaving never to be remembered. But how wrong were they who thought so, and how blessed are we who live on in the days of Odofin. Today, his works and impact-generating representation speak for him, as many of his constituents look forward to a replication of his able representation. His political influence was strengthened more, by his projects, making him easily retain the leadership position of being the Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly as at June 2, 2019.

The Odofin Free School Bus scheme has become a legacy, and iconic representation of free education. For the seven years it ran, students were able to save, parents were able to save, the security and safety of students who had to daily cross the ever busy Sagamu Being Express way was guaranteed, lives were preserved and lives were changed and the impact of such a tenure in office still lives on in Ikenne State Constituency which he represented.

Asides the school bus, Honourable Odofin is regarded as one of the most brilliant and fearless legislator Ogun State House of Assembly ever had. He sponsored bills and co-sponsored many others, leading to the creation of state agencies, building of infrastructure and of course, taking Ogun State in a whole to the next level. Indeed, his times were like that of Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the Helmsman of the Western Region, whose legacy he ably represented and replicated at the foremost legislative chambers in Ogun State. He was a man of constituency projects that speaks volume and is yet to be surpassed in Ikenne State Constituency of Ogun State, even as at 2023.

For vvery schooling day, Mondays to Fridays for every month for seven good years, students, irrespective of schools, got to commute to schools across Ilisan-Remo, Ikenne-Remo, Ogere-Remo and even Remo North. It was a massive capital intensive project, having to fuel up to four Buses, pay a monthly salary for the drivers and assistants, servicing the bus, changing body parts, keeping it in good shape and condition every day in seven years takes a whole lot. The worth and weight of this project is that there has never been a kind of project like Odofin Free School Bus, since four years that Hon. (Odofin) Samuel Olusola SONUGA ended his tenure.

In dire times of Nation building such as this, it is no wonder that constituents of Ikenne State Constituency are missing such an impactful State Constituency project like Odofin School Bus, and are grateful that Odofin initiated such a project widely thought as possible, thereby raising the bar of quality legislation.

Today, Hon. (Odofin) Samuel Olusola SONUGA brings to bear his experience in nation building as the Board Chairman of Ogun State Traffic Compliance Agency (TRACE) in Ogun State. Indeed, a golden fish has no hiding place.