The Chairman of Haminet Motors Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Maruf Salimonu, in a move aimed at improving student welfare and access to education, has donated a new school bus to Madinatul Irfan Academy, a private educational institution in Okene, Kogi State.
In Nigeria, where students of public schools often trek long distances to school, a few private individuals are stepping up to bridge the gap, ensuring that students’ access to education, mobility and overall welfarism are well catered for.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Haminet Motors Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Salimonu is one of a small but growing number of private citizens supporting public education in their communities for easier and smoother access.
A Significant Boost for Student Welfare
The donation was made during the school’s recent Speech, Prize-Giving, and Graduation Ceremony, an event attended by parents, educators, community leaders, and students.
The presence of Alhaji Maruf, a respected figure in Nigeria’s automotive industry, drew attention to the growing role of private sector actors in supporting grassroots education.
Madinatul Irfan Academy, known for its emphasis on academic discipline and moral upbringing, described the gift as a “significant boost” to its transportation system.
As partly expressed in an official appreciation letter addressed to Haminet Motors, the school’s management said the vehicle would “go a long way in enhancing the transportation needs of our students and improving their overall welfare.”
Corporate Social Responsibility in Action
Its immediate logistical impact asides, the bus donation is expected to ease the daily commute for dozens of students, particularly those from surrounding communities with limited transport options.
Education observers say such contributions help bridge gaps in school infrastructure, especially in semi-urban areas where resources are often stretched.
Haminet Motors Nigeria Limited, which operates within the vehicle sales and automotive services sector, has in recent years expanded its involvement in community-oriented projects.
While the company is primarily known for its commercial operations, the chairman’s engagement in education-focused initiatives aligns with a wider push for corporate social responsibility in Nigeria’s business landscape.
A Modest Gesture with a Wide Impact
For Alhaji Maruf, the gesture appears to be both a personal and corporate statement about the role of industry leaders in addressing local needs.
Although he did not make an elaborate public speech during the ceremony, attendees noted that his quiet but tangible contribution underscored a commitment to practical support rather than symbolic gestures.
The school, in its letter, hoped for “a continued and fruitful partnership” with Haminet Motors, stating that the relationship could go beyond the current donation.
With Nigeria’s education sector facing ongoing challenges, acts like this, though modest in scale, highlight how targeted private interventions can have an outsized impact on daily learning conditions for students.
