Edo Students Receive Laptops as Foundation Empowers 150 Boys
Destiny Ogbadi receiving a laptop from the Chief Operating Officer, Ochuko Onovae at the Boy-Child Initiative at the Edo National College in Iguobazuwa LGA, Edo state
By Rebecca Ejifoma
For many students in rural communities across Edo State, access to basic learning tools remains a challenge. While they aspire to excel academically, limited access to educational resources often stands in the way of their ambitions.
For SS2 student Destiny Ogbadi of Edo National College, Iguobazuwa, in Ovia South-West Local Government Area, owning a laptop was a dream he never imagined would come true anytime soon.
That dream became a reality when he was presented with a brand-new laptop during the Emmanuel Osemota Foundation’s Boy-Child Initiative held on June 18 to commemorate this year’s International Day of the Boy Child. As he received the device before fellow students, teachers, and guests, Ogbadi struggled to hide his excitement, a moment that reflected the hope and opportunities the initiative seeks to provide for young boys.
“I want to really thank the Emmanuel Osemota Foundation for giving me this laptop,” he said, drawing applause from the audience.
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Ogbadi was among over 150 male students who benefited from the programme. As part of its commitment to promoting education, the foundation distributed approximately 1,000 educational materials, including 480 exercise books, 200 pens, and other essential learning supplies to the boys. Teachers were also provided with instructional materials to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom. In attendance were female students who had previously benefited from the foundation’s educational support initiatives during the preceding year.
The one-day event combined mentorship, advocacy and educational empowerment. Sessions focused on personal development, academic excellence, health and wellbeing, career guidance, and rehabilitation awareness. Students actively participated in discussions, asked questions and shared their experiences.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the foundation and U.S.-based epidemiologist, Dr. Emmanuel Osemota, said the initiative was designed to ensure that boys are not left behind in efforts to prepare the next generation of leaders.
“We want to ensure these boys also have access to opportunities and educational resources that can inspire them to dream bigger and achieve success,” he said.
According to Osemota, empowering young people requires a balanced approach that supports both boys and girls, particularly in underserved communities where access to educational materials is often limited.
The initiative forms part of the foundation’s mission to improve lives through education, healthcare and community empowerment. Over the years, the Emmanuel Osemota Foundation has implemented programmes supporting women, girls, medical students and vulnerable members of society in Edo State and the United States.
The organisation, a registered nonprofit operating in both Nigeria and Florida, USA, focuses on expanding access to education, healthcare services and economic opportunities for underserved communities.
For students like Ogbadi, however, the impact is immediate and personal. Beyond the laptop and writing materials, the programme delivered the confidence to believe that their goals are thinkable and achievable and that their future is worth investing in.
