By Jumoke Olaitan
The Zephyrgold Aid Foundation, an NGO, has appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to support vulnerable children and families struggling to keep their children in school.
The Managing Director of the foundation, Dr Rowland Adewumi made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Adewumi said the foundation had paid the school fees of 100 students across primary and secondary schools, covering both private and public institutions.
He said the gesture was part of an educational outreach initiative aimed at reducing the financial burden on low-income families and ensuring that children from disadvantaged homes remained in school.
He said the increasing cost of education had made it difficult for some parents to meet their children’s educational needs, stressing that support from individuals and organisations could help prevent more children from dropping out of school.
”A lot of children are seen on the street hawking, begging, or being used to carry out crime because they are not in school,” he said.
According to him, keeping children in school is not only about academic development but also about protecting them from negative influences and contributing to the security and development of the country.
”Education is power. Therefore, if we want our nation to move forward, we must educate the children; they are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
Adewumi added that the rapidly changing world required children to have access to quality education to enable them contribute meaningfully to national development.
”The world is changing fast, and it is only when the future leaders have the right education that they can bring out the change we need as a nation.
“We are appealing to individuals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to complement government efforts by supporting children whose parents can no longer afford their school fees,” he said.
Adewumi said the intervention was intended to ensure that financial difficulties did not force children out of school or expose them to street hawking, begging, exploitation and other social vices.
He called on more individuals and organisations to join the effort to keep vulnerable children in school and create better opportunities for their future.
Some parents of beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the foundation, saying the intervention had brought relief at a time when the cost of education was becoming increasingly difficult to bear.
One of the parents, Mr Matthew Ajiboye, described the payment of the school fees as more than financial assistance, saying it demonstrated concern for the welfare of families.
”This is more than just financial assistance; it is a great demonstration of concern for our welfare, understanding of the responsibilities we carry as parents, and commitment to the well-being of families,” he said.
Ajiboye said the gesture had eased the pressure associated with school fees and provided families with renewed hope.
”At a time when the burden of school fees can be quite challenging, this support has brought great relief to many of us,” he said.
Another parent, Taiye Oyelade, expressed gratitude to the foundation for paying the school fees of her children, Bright and David, saying the gesture had shown her love and kindness.
Oyelade prayed for continued blessings on the foundation, describing herself as “forever grateful.”(NAN)
JUM/FAK
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Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi