Stakeholders advocate free education in rural areas
Stakeholders advocate free education in rural areas
Published By: Paul Dada
By EricJames Ochigbo
Stakeholders in the education sector have called for government and private sector partnership in the provision of free education in the rural areas of the country.
They made the call in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the 6th anniversary of the Not Forgotten Initiative (NFI) School in Abuja on Thursday.
The NFI is a school in Abuja, ran in a makeshift structure where indigent children get free education, uniform and lunch, financed by private individuals.
NAN reports that the initiative which was inaugurated in 2018 with 14 pupils now has 111 pupils with seven classrooms, a library, a computer room, a hall, gents among others facilities.
The Founder of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation, Rev. Fr. George Ehusani, said quality of education would be improved in the country if 300 individuals emulate and replicate this initiative in rural areas.
“Nigeria today is a thoroughly divided society between the very rich and the very poor, and the children of the very poor have no opportunities for education.
“So this is a very critical initiative, a very much needed initiative, and it is God sent. You can see these children. You can see what they are benefiting,” he said.
Also speaking, the Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverian) Mr Charles Aniagwu, described the initiative as laudable especially in the face of the economic situation.
“It is a laudable initiative to be able to give back to society. I am told that all the people and students of this institution do not even pay fees. They take care of their fees.
“That is what many churches are not doing, what many mosques are not doing.
“For me, I believe with this kind of initiative, heaven is closer to the person than those who think that is only about singing, dancing and collecting tithe and all that,” he said.
Earlier, the Founder/Director of the school, Mrs Oluwatosin Adeniyi, said that a total of 27 children from the school had been admitted into various Federal Government colleges on full scholarship.
She said that the school have grown from a small school to a community of leaders, learners, dreamers and achievers.
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“Most importantly, we have been able to instill hope in children who were the ones forgotten by society, showing them that they are loved, valued and destined for greatness.
“As we celebrate today, let us not lose sight of the work that remains to be done. There are still many children waiting for opportunity to learn, to grow and to dream.
“We can continue to expand this mission, touching more lives and creating a better a brighter future for generations to come,” she said.
Some of pupils and parents who spoke to NAN could not contain their joy as they prayed God to bless the founder and donors of NFI.
Master Muhammadu Abdulahi, an eight-year old, primary one pupil had this to say “I could only speak hausa when I came to this school but now, I can speak English, thanks to the help of my teacher and friends,” he said.
Mrs Afiniki Sunday, a parent of four children in the school expressed her joy and called for support to sustain the initiative.
“I am so so happy because I have two children that have graduated from this school and are now in boarding school in Bwari on scholarship.”
She said her children have been taught to take the gesture as an opportunity to also give back tonthe less privileged in the society.
“We tell them that, even when we are no longer alive, whatever they become in life, they should remember to support this school,” she said.(NAN)
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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
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