The Nation Newspaper

Tag: indigent pupils

  • Indigent pupils enjoy fun, get school kits at Chidren’s Day

    Indigent pupils enjoy fun, get school kits at Chidren’s Day

    Golden Little Lights, a non-governmental organisation, has celebrated Children’s Day with 500 indigent pupils at Ikoyi Girls’ Primary School, Lagos.

     Co-founders, Adedoyin Fabikun and Sharon Ashinze, said: “The party is to give them access to fun activities they may ordinarily not enjoy due to their backgrounds.

    “The one-day programme was established to treat them with laughter and play, including activities related to safety and other studies – quiz competition, mascots appearances, bouncing castles and others.

    Read Also: Lagos workers deserve living wage, LP tells Sanwo-Olu

    “This is our little way of giving back to the communities. We believe every child deserves to experience joy and happiness, regardless of background or circumstances.

    “In addition to providing a day of fun for children, we call on government to invest more in education for them to have quality education.

    “Golden Little Lights has been supporting needy children and make a positive impact in the society. Its dedication to uplift children is evident in its commitment to hosting such events. We believe every child would go home fulfilled, in addition to getting free notebooks, writing materials and mathematical sets.”

  • NGO donates uniforms to indigent pupils

    A Non-governmental organisation (NGO), Blossom Africa Initiative, creating awareness on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), yesterday donated uniforms to indigent pupils in Lagos State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group, which took the SDGs campaign to Agidingbi Primary School in Ikeja, Lagos, gave pupils with torn uniforms new ones.

    The group’s president, Mr. Tope Musowo, who led members of the NGO to the school, said they were moved seeing pupils wearing torn and worn-out uniforms.

    He said the group provided the uniforms to contribute to the realisation of the SDGs.

  • Indigent pupils get free GCE forms

    The Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson Foundation (GAF) has distributed hundreds of free General Certificate of Examination (GCE) forms to indigent pupils of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    It also organised free coaching classes for them.

    “The foundation has taken this bold step on a conviction that education of our children remains the catalyst of social development and economic emancipation from shackles of poverty,” it said.

    Some residents of the council thanked GAF founder Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson for the gesture.

     

     

  • 41 indigent pupils get scholarship

    41 indigent pupils get scholarship

    At just N7,000 per term, Bridge International Academy charges one of the lowest fees for primary education in Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial nerve-centre.

    Its fees are highly-subsidised by its founders whose aim is to make quality education accessible to children from deprived families at affordable rate.

    However, some indigent families still cannot afford to pay the fees.

    Such is the case of Fathia Jamiu, seven, who attends Shibiri’s branch of the Bridge Academy in Ojo Local Government Area.

    Her father allegedly abandoned her and her two siblings when she was four, leaving the burden for their education and upkeep for her mother, Aminat, who does not have means of livelihood, to bear alone.

    To raise Fathia’s fees at the Bridge Academy last year, Mrs Jamiu had to do menial jobs. However, when the new session started in October, she could not pay.

    Unlike Fathia, David and Destiny live with their parents who are out of jobs. Their father, Mr Samuel Ibologun, struggles daily to provide their basic needs.  It is an herculean task paying about N20,000 per term for his three children attending the Bridge Academy.

    He defaulted in payment for this term and has no hope of paying for David and Destiny in January.

    With the economic recession biting hard, many indigent families who have children in the school resorted to installmental payment of the fees.

    Luckily, OMMA Comfort Fund, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has come to the rescue of Fathia, David, Destiny, Oyinkansola and 37 others selected from all branches of the Bridge Academy scattered across six local government areas of Lagos State.

    The children have been offered scholarship.

    Though the beneficiaries were not selected based on academic performance, Mrs Adesuwa Ifedi, a Senior Adviser at the Bridge Academy, said they are exceptional children academically.

    Explaining how the beneficiaries were selected, Debbie Akwarra, the Academy’s Community Experience Director, said: “In the course of our team’s engagement with parents in the communities, we discovered that there were many families facing challenges affecting the education of their children. After we identified those families, we presented their cases to corporate organisations that support education. Families with critical conditions are identified and supported with the scholarship.”

    Chief Executive Officer, OMMA Comfort Fund, Mrs Bunmi Ajani Lawson, said the organisation gave the scholarship because education remains critical for the nation to move out of recession.

    Mrs Lawson, who was honoured with the Bridge Academy Champion Award for the gesture, said she believed it was only education that could lift the downtrodden out of poverty. She noted that two schools were shortlisted for the scholarship, adding that Bridge Academy was picked for its quality and affordability.

    She said: “We believe education would have lasting transformation effect on low-income families. I feel that if we provide education to indigent children and support their families, they have chances to move out of poverty.”

    Mrs Lawson, who is the Managing Director of Accion Microfinance Bank and a member of the academy’s Advisory Board, said her organisation’s education goals were in line with the Bridge Academy’s objectives, which was why the NGO did not hesitate to give the pupils the scholarship.

    Mrs Jamiu fought back tears when she got her daughter’s scholarship letter. Save for the scholarship, she said she had contemplated stopping Fathia from going to school, because she had no hope of getting money to pay her fees.

    She said: “Fathia was four years old when my husband abandoned me and three children. I struggled to enroll her in school, because I don’t have a job. It was my mother who borrowed money to pay the enrolment fee. Things are tough for me and my children since I cannot get job with my NCE qualification. But, I cannot imagine seeing my children at home during school hours. That is why volunteered to be doing menial jobs at the school.”

     

  • Groups donate sandals to indigent pupils

    Groups donate sandals to indigent pupils

    In commemoration of the International Day of the girl-child, Hope for African Girls Initiative (HAGi), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with the Nigerian Writers Award (NWA), has donated 1,000 pairs of sandals to indigent school children under a project tagged: Footsteps to a better tomorrow.

    Some of the schools are Suleiman Muslim School in Offa, Bimpe Primary School, Offa, Ajoke Nursery and Primary School in Ipe, Muslim Community School, Ipe, Community Primary School in Ago Baba Osi, and Community Primary School in Ipe.

    HAGi’s coordinator Jennifer Umeh said the gesture was to ensure that pupils did not walk bare foot to school.

    “The goal of the project is to take their shame away and kit them with good footwear,” she said.

    Before embarking on the project, Jennifer, a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), said the children were at the risk of injury and exposure to diseases that may arise from bacteria-infested wounds. She said the need to protect the children from diseases informed the project.

    She said: “Children going to school barefooted are common  in this part of the country. We felt the urge to help them and protect them from diseases and injuries that may discourage them from achieving their future aims.”

    Jennifer said the gesture would have been impossible without the partnership of NWA and beneficiary schools’ authorities, which bought into the idea to support the project.

    Modest Diko, NWA coordinator, said: “We decided to visit remote areas, because rural dwellers are the people who need this kind of gesture most. We bought and donated the foot wares with the hope that the society will realise the dangers which comes with sending children to school in bare foot. We hope this effort brings such practice to end.

    “We believe children are future. If we truly care and believe in them, we need to support them by providing materials they need to keep them focused. We all would cry happy tears when we see them achieving their dreams.”

    The organisers thanked donors and volunteers who supported the project for their generosity, saying the exercise was a work in progress.

  • Putting smiles on faces of indigent pupils

    Putting smiles on faces of indigent pupils

    Despite the falling reading culture and economic hardship, an art-based non-governmental organisation, GreenHouse Arts Empowerment Centre (GHAEC) in Olambe, Ogun State, has bankrolled an empowerment project for primary and secondary schools pupils. It also awarded scholarships to some of the pupils. Evelyn OsagiE reports.

    •GreenHouse gives out scholarship 

    For 14-year-old Adam Morufat, it was a day of fulfilment and she shed tears of joy. The tears flowed as she walked up to the podium to receive her prize.

    Morufat, a Junior Secondary School III (JSS 3) pupil of Matogun Community High School, Matogun in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, came first in a competition that featured 18 other pupils.

    She was the toast of many. It was too much for the teenager to handle. But, what prize could have drawn such emotion from a bold and outspoken teenager? It was one that came with full secondary school scholarship. Ironically, while the parents of other participants were at the ceremony, Morufat’s parents, Mr Talhat and Mujidat Adams, were not there; but they went with their blessing and support.

    “My parents prayed for and encouraged me. Their words challenged and inspired me to win,” she said.

    Evidently, she was overwhelmed, and so were her counterparts and guests at the GreenHouse Art Empowerment Centre (GHAEC) inter-governmental schools’ essay competition.

    But when Morufat entered for the art-based essay competition, she was not sure of what to expect. “People promised a lot of things but didn’t fulfil it. And I did not know that I would win. But I said to myself that I would put in my best to win.” And win she did; but she was not the only one who went home with a prize.

    Oyeniran Ezekiel, a JSS 3 pupil of Ajuwon High School, the second place winner, went home with one year scholarship worth N120,000. The third place winner, a JSS 2 pupil of Olambe Community Comprehensive High School, Obadina Ayanfeoluwa, received one year scholarship worth N50,000.

    Despite the state of the economy,  GHAEC,  is resolute in giving back to its community. From empowering children, youths, women, teachers and schools with skills and trainings, the centre, established in 2009  by Princess Theresa Iyase-Odozi, has taken its empowerment programmes to another level. This time, it awarded scholarships worth thousands of naira to children in government junior secondary schools in Olambe, Matogun, Akute and Ajuwon.

    It was, a memorable occasion for the pupils, their families, principals, art teachers and community leaders at the grand finale of the competition, which was part of a four-day training and seminar.

    The three winners, along with the 15 other participants  showed promise for the future of art and Nigeria’s educational system. The children impressed the judges, who are experienced art teachers and scholars, and the audience. Each participant also went home with a gift.

    According to Princess Iyase-Odozi, the event was in line with the objectives of promoting visual art education. The competition, she said, would be a yearly event. She said: “Our intention is to explore various ways in which the GreenHouse Art Empowerment Centre can render genuine services to enhance the lives of the children/youths, who cannot afford the private school fees, but resort to attend government /community schools in Olambe, Matokgun, Akute, and Ajuwon. Beyond their tattered uniforms/clothes, I see hope in the eyes.

    “Sometimes, out of curiosity, I randomly check their school bags and find them practically empty. When I go further to see what goes on in the schools, I realise the futile journey with the pupils merely carrying old torn books in their bags all around. As one of the centre objectives, we promote Nigeria art history and culture. We are there to continuously support the efforts of government.”

    The event opened with an interactive session among the schools’ principals, art teachers, parents and community leaders, who addressed and interacted with the pupils and youths. They expressed their experiences on the grand finale, while praising the centre for its contribution to the development of education in the communities. The parents and teachers said it was a well-timed event that gave them an opportunity to learn, interact and expand their knowledge in the arts.

    For Aremo Ramoni Akinola Ogunremi, the Otun Baale of Olambe Town,  art is a core subject in the school’s curriculum, noting that it would help reduce the high rate of unemployment in the country. “Today, this programme is first of its kind, in the history of this community. Beneficiaries of its generator repair, soap, tie and head gear (gele) workshops, and catering services empowerment twice in a year, programmes for our youths, women, can never forget this centre. They have grown from being unemployed to self-and-paid-employed.

    “Her contribution towards the development of Olambe town and its environs, had demonstrated her love for social well-being of a man-kind,” he said.

    The Oganla of Olambe Kingdom, Chief Olaniyi Olowoyeye, said: “This establishment has helped to change the status of this community from a mere rural village to a big town in Ogun State through its constant exhibitions and life-saving programmes. You have not only helped to put Olambe in the world’s map with big cities, like Benin and Onikan.

    “I commend the centre because of the timing of the programme which falls within the time when government, corporate bodies, and even prominent people cannot fulfil most of their financial obligations to others because of the economic meltdown witnessed and experienced by all concerned.”

    GHAEC Chairman Mr Victor Odozi commended the traditional rulers for their cooperation, and the people for their support for the centre, saying the centre hoped to do more in future.

    Odozi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, said: “Our decision to relocate to Olambe and set up a permanent structure for driving our social contributions initiatives under the auspices of GHAEC is a matter of personal choice and we have no regrets about it. Indeed, since we settled here almost a decade ago, we have been well received and treated by our host community. All is well with us and we are here to stay for the long haul.’’