……… Seek FCT Minister, Stakeholders Support to achieve SDG Goal on Education
In a bid to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4) on education which aim to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, and ensure its access to every child, the Global Life-Towers Buidlers Foundation on the the 21st of October, 2023 under its project OneChildCampaign provided educational materials to pupils of zazadna community kugbo2 of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and paid the school fees for some of the pupils in the community.
The Founder and Executive Director, Global Life-Towers Builders Foundation, Mr. Godwin Uwakolam while speaking at the distribution of the educational materials stated that OneChildCampaign believes that every child has the right to accessing quality and sustainable education but identified that there are children who are either out of school or their parents find it very difficult to pay their children’s school fees, hence the distribution of the educational materials.
Uwakolam however explained that so far, OneChildCampaign has been able to get a sizeable number of children into the program, been working with some communities and secured partnership of private and government institutions within the community.
Uwakolam disclosed that OneChildCampaign discovered that lack of interest is one of the major reasons from the parents as they don’t really see the need for educating their children but rather prefer farming and petty trading. He assured that the organization will embark on massive awareness campaign amongst community leaders and parents whilst involving others stakeholders to champion the course.
He however called on the FCT minister and other stakeholders in the educational sector at the local level to look into the fees being paid by the pupils as some parents cannot still afford to pay.
“It is holistic, it is something the government and stakeholders need to sit down and work out to ensure that SGD goal 4 is accessible and available to every child”. So he said when asked about how to ensure quality education is made available and accessible to every child.
Uwakolam further highlighted the enormous need for different forms of educational interventions in the rural communities within the FCT such as the need for government established educational system in both Kiada and Kutunku communities where they recently discovered while on “NEEDS ASSESSMENT TOUR” around some suburbs within the federal capital territory with high level of school drop-outs in these communities due to lack of funds.
Similarly, some of these communities rely o missionaries within the community who were able to setup and operated churches and schools in the community.The schools which are mostly operated in the community missionary’s residence have not enough space to accommodate the children.
The staff and teachers in the missionary community school work on a volunteer basis as the churches and community can’t afford to pay the teachers.
The schools also lack basic needs such as whiteboard, student desks, writing materials, and school wears.
There is also no form of government presence in the community, no access to healthcare services, no Electricity, no government established schools, and no access roads etc Uwakolam added.
According to the missionaries, some of the practices they met prevalent in the communities includes killing of twins and the likes which the advent of Christianity has suppressed to a reasonable extent.
Expressing her delight as beneficiaries of the educational materials, the Proprietor, Hilltop Baptist School, Kugbo Mrs Taiwo Adesayo stated that the school has
benefitted immensely from OneChildCampaign with five pupils whose fees are being paid hence supporting the parents and serves as an inspiration to the pupils to be more serious in their studies and added that surprisingly, beneficiaries of OneChildCampaign took first and second position in the last exams.
Mr. John Pedro, father to one of the beneficiaries lauded the initiative and support from OneChildCampaign for paying his son’s school fees and buying him school uniform, Books and other educational materials. He urged the organization to continue the gesture on yearly basis.
Also, Holiness Andrew, a beneficiary also applauded the kind gesture and express optimism that her vision of becoming a teacher in future will be achieved.
The Palace Secretary, Kugbo Community, Prince Samuel Fenu while appreciating OneChildCampaign stated that education is key to success and the benefits is enormous, he urged the beneficiaries to use the items received for the intended purpose.
Items distributed includes, books, pencils, biros, uniforms and payment of school fees.