By Adekunle Williams
Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State says it is committed to tackling the out-of-school children challenge through the distribution of educational materials to more than 3,000 pupils in 22 schools across the council.
The Chairman of the LCDA, Mrs Amope Adedeji, made this known at the conclusion of the third and fourth editions of the council’s Back-to-School Support Programme in Lagos on Friday.
Adedeji said the programme was extended to the remaining 22 public primary schools in the council to reduce the financial burden on low-income parents.
She said the support included school uniforms, school bags, socks, mathematical sets, exercise books, pencils, biros and other educational materials.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bariga LCDA has 30 public primary schools, with the first two editions of the programme covering eight schools.
Adedeji said the third and fourth editions covered the remaining 22 schools.
She listed the schools as Temidire Primary School, Aiyetoro Primary School, Akoka, Bariga Primary School, Shomolu Local Government School, Pedro Primary School and Abule Ayo Primary School.
Others are Temple Primary School, Ogo Oluwa Primary School, Maharuf-Deen Primary School, Pedro, Bariga, Ajidagan Primary School, Oduduwa Primary School and Idi-Odo Primary School.
The rest are Igbehinadun Primary School, Ade-Ife Memorial Primary School, Baptist Academy Primary School, Lad Lak Primary School, Adelehin Primary School, Alubarika Primary School and National Primary School.
Others include Adaranijo Primary School, Ayinke Primary School and Saviour Primary School, Bariga.
The chairman said the initiative aligned with the broader education agenda of the Lagos State Government, led by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
She said the council was tracking and collecting data on out-of-school children, particularly pupils who dropped out between Primary One and Primary Five.
According to her, the exercise is aimed at immediately re-enrolling such children in the nearest public schools.
Adedeji said the back-to-school materials would promote a conducive learning environment across public primary schools in Bariga.
She added that the council had also distributed chairs and desks to schools to improve classroom facilities and provide pupils with better seating arrangements.
She congratulated the beneficiaries and reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to ensuring that no child was left behind in the pursuit of quality education.
“This effort is about giving hope to families, reducing the financial burden on parents and, most importantly, sending a clear message to our children that their dreams are valid,” she said.
Adedeji urged the pupils to take advantage of the opportunity, study hard, respect their teachers and parents and strive for excellence.
She also appreciated parents, guardians, school heads and teachers for their support and commitment to the education of the children.
The chairman urged the beneficiaries to use the materials judiciously and take their education seriously, describing education as the foundation of any society.
Also speaking, Mr Moruf Ali-Balogun, APC candidate for Shomolu II Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, commended the chairman for the initiative.
Ali-Balogun described the programme as a foundational initiative capable of making a lasting impact on the educational development of children in Bariga.
He urged the pupils to remain focused on their studies and strive to become useful members of society.
In his goodwill message, Mr Kolade Alabi, immediate past Chairman of Bariga LCDA, described the programme as another significant step toward supporting pupils, parents, schools and local artisans.
Alabi, who is also the APC candidate for Somolu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, described the initiative as a “3-in-1” programme.
He said the programme provided essential educational materials, helped parents cushion the financial burden of preparing their children for school and contributed to local economic growth.
“This is because local artisans were engaged to produce the school uniforms distributed to the pupils,” he said.
NAN reports that the event attracted government functionaries, party leaders, community leaders, education stakeholders and residents.
Those in attendance included the Vice Chairman, Mr Babatunde Adesida; Council Leader, Mr Wasiu Balogun; and Chairman, House Committee on Education, Mr Seun Onakoya.
Others were the Secretary to the Local Government, Alhaji Suri Kareem Adebayo; Host Supervisor, Mr Mofoluso Adebomojo; other supervisors and special advisers.
Also present were APC Federal Constituency leaders and ward chairmen; Educational Secretary, Somolu Local Education District, Hon. Dare Martins Onakoya; and members of the Community Development Committee and Community Development Associations.
Artisans, student representatives, APC women leaders, members of the Bariga Council of Baales and other stakeholders also attended the event. (NAN)
Edited by Grace Alegba