Blessing Amarachi Azoribe, PBA Journalism MenteeBy Blessing Amarachi Azoribe
Failure to give children access to quality education has been blamed for the spate of insurgency and other social ills ravaging parts of Nigeria and other countries in Africa.
Prof. Vincent Ayebulam Onodugo, the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, who made this assertion, said poverty and ignorance have led to the continuous rise in the number of out-of-school children in the country.
He stated that as future leaders, access to quality education would help children understand the world around them, appreciate humanity and also contribute meaningfully to societal development.
Prof. Onodugo spoke during a scholarship award event organised by Elaine Education Foundation, (EEF) a non-profit organisation, at Malex International School, Uwani in Enugu State on Saturday, 16 September 2023.
The university don, who was the chairman of the event said: “The motivation behind the foundation’s activities is that every child has a right to quality education.”
According to him, economic hardship has pushed a lot of people into “quiet endemic poverty” making “the number of out-of-school student grown into millions.”
“A lot of children are denied education not to talk about quality education. Out-of-school children are a breeding ground for insurgency and all manner of social ills we have today.
“When children have access to quality education they will understand and appreciate humanity and also contribute meaningfully to society. We are leveraging this kind of belief to be able to provide access to education to every child,” Prof. Onodugo stated.
Prof. Onodugo, who is also one of the Trustees/Board Members of EEF highlighted the organisation’s dedication to nurturing young minds and fostering a brighter future.
Formally known as Brave Space, with Elaine Education Foundation, The Elaine Education Foundation was founded in 2022 by Elaine Adaku Nkwocha-Nwosu, who is passionate about helping young people tap into and live out their passion and potentials through teaching and mentorship.
The Foundation which last year awarded scholarships to 50 indigent school children, has this year increased it to 62.
The event brought together Elaine Adaku Nkwocha, the EEF founder; Dr. Chris Maiyaki, acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission who joined via Zoom; 62 enthusiastic students, their parents, teachers, and other invited guests.
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The scholarships were awarded based on merit. Explaining the process for selecting beneficiaries, Prof. Onodugo said: “We profile, look at the indigents. We are taking people who cannot see themselves through school.”
“Indigency is a major criterion,” he emphasised.
“The foundation is evolving; we now have five strategies which are: scholarships, helping students to have access to learning equipment, equipping schools, partnering with parents and teachers, partnering with like minds.”
According to Prof. Onodugo, the approach would ensure that the scholarships were granted to students who truly embodied the spirit of the programme. He clarified that students who benefit from the scholarship range from nursery to secondary schools.
With joy in her heart, one of the beneficiaries, Harrison Favour, expressed profound gratitude to the foundation saying: “last year September 2022, while I was in SS2, my parent had nothing to sponsor my education, I had to start roasting corn to assist them. But since the Elaine Education Foundation came into my life, the story has changed. Now I have been able to complete my secondary education with ease. God bless EEF.”
Aroh Melody, another beneficiary also shared how the foundation has given her hope and assurance of the future. “Because of poverty I could not join my mates in SS2, but with the intervention of the foundation I completed my SS2 education and now I am in SS3,” Melody stated.
While the children were expressing their joy the parents were not left out. “I must say that this foundation is from God, I must say it was because of me that this foundation was founded,” Mrs. Praise, one of the parents of the beneficiaries commented.
“Since my husband died, taking care of three children has not been easy, but now since their school fees has been paid for, I have no excuse not to monitor them, I am happy,” she added.
“This scholarship brought me back from the dead. I lost my husband last year and since then I have been thinking about how I will sponsor my children until I heard about this foundation,” Mrs. Nnenna Judith stated.
She prayed for the founder of EEF, asking the “God of the widows” to take care of her. “I pray that others would emulate her and give back to the community.”
Teachers representing the schools the student belong to also expressed their joy for the gesture. “I really thank God because the parent in question has accumulated debts to be paid, I am so happen for her, she is a teacher but salary gotten is barely enough to take care of five children. Right now the woman feel alive, the foundation is really a blessing,” Mrs Ezenwaka Linda, the bursar of Greater Tomorrow International School revealed.
Some of the volunteers for the NGO, who spoke to Prime Business Africa expressed their joy for having an opportunity to make positive impacts on people’s lives through the scholarship programme. “This is my own way of giving back to the society. Favour Nwogu one of the volunteers for the NGO stated.
“I felt very happy on the very first time we started this programme when a parent declared how this foundation has been a rescue mission for her. I might not be at the fore front but I am part of the people that made the experience memorable for her. I believe I will be able to support in a bigger way in the future and not just a volunteer,” she added.
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