Uchechukwu Nnaike
In line with its 2017 CSR project tagged ‘Bookathon’, Cornerstone Insurance Plc Foundation has donated a total of 2,000 English Language and mathematics textbooks to 10 junior and senior secondary schools in Lagos, Rivers State and Abuja. Each school got a total of 200 books.
According to the Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications Group, Cordelia Ekeocha, the initiative was aimed at equipping the schools’ libraries with basic academic and educational materials, as well as boosting students’ academic performances in Mathematics and English Language exams at state and national levels.
On the rationale behind the books donation, she said: “Research shows that the current economic crisis in Nigeria has had an observable negative impact on the education sector; as many state governments continue with drastic budget cuts on basic infrastructure in both junior and senior secondary schools.
“Recent West African Examination Council (WAEC) performance sheets reveal that only 59.2 per cent of pupils who participated in the 2017 SSCE obtained credits in five subjects or more including English Language and Mathematics.”
She added that as a result of the harsh economic situation, most parents cannot afford to buy textbooks for their children so the company decided to donate the textbooks in two subjects, which are a prerequisite for securing admission in any tertiary institution in the country.
“Basically, we are empowering the future generation to ensure they succeed and reach their goals,” Ekeocha said.
The benefiting schools are Oregun Senior High School, Ojodu Junior Grammar School, Ikeja Junior Grammar School, Oshodi, Estate Senior Grammar School, Mushin, Jakande Estate Comprehensive Senior College, Abesan, Iju Senior Grammar School, Fagba Junior Grammar School, and Unity Junior College, Agege, Lagos.
Others are Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokuta, Port Harcout, Rivers State, and Model School, Maitama, Abuja donated in collaboration with FIN Insurance Company Limited.
Receiving the donation, the Principal of Estate Senior Grammar School, Mrs. Folake Adams, who expressed delight about the gesture, said with the books, the students would be well equipped to study Mathematics and English Language, which she described as the bedrock of learning.
In terms of maintenance, she said the school has a well equipped library where the books will be kept. “We are going to make sure we have a register where the books will be registered, any learner that wishes to have access to them will have to go through the register to borrow and everyone will have equal opportunity.”
The Principal of Iju Senior Grammar School, Mrs. Dorcas Adegboye, who thanked the company for the donation, said the students will never forget the donor as the books would lead to improved performance and effective teaching and learning of the two subjects.
She said the books will be kept in the library for the students to access at any time and that it will replace some of the obsolate textbooks in the library.
