It is said that education is key to success and a very important factor in a child’s development. However, statistics show that a lot of children in Nigeria are out of school or have never been to school.
According to a recent survey conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the population of out of school children in Nigeria has risen from 10.5 million to 13.2 million, which is the highest in the world.
One group making remarkable efforts in ensuring children stay in school is the Women of Glory Foundation; a non-profit organisation founded in 2016, composed of female professionals from various walks of life.
Since 2018, the foundation has kept over 100 children in school by supporting students whose parents cannot afford to keep them in school.
In a recent visit to LEA Primary School Jahi Express in Abuja, the group in addition to sharing stationeries, school bags and snacks to the pupils, also presented a cheque of 500,000 naira to cater for the school fees of 50 students.
Speaking at the event, the President of Women of Glory Abuja, Cynthia Okoye, revealed that the visit was in keeping with the mission of the foundation to empower the vulnerable in society especially women and children.
“This initiative has been running for three years. In 2018, we decided to support families who couldn’t pay their children’s school fees, so we decided to pick a school and agreed that every year we would support 50 children to ensure they go to school.
“We take care of their fees, their books and any other thing they need. This is a new session so we are back here to fulfill that promise.”
Okoye also revealed future plans to renovate the school buildings, provide teaching materials, better desks and tables for the children, and also extend the initiative to other schools.
In her remarks, the Head Teacher, Mrs. Arhanmhunde Edith, expressed her gratitude at the kind gesture of the foundation.
An enthused Arhanmhunde said: “This visit by the Women of Glory Foundation gladdens my heart. We are really grateful for all their efforts to support our students and their families.”
One beneficiary of the initiative, Rahinatu Abdulhamid in Basic 5A burst into tears of joy while trying to express her gratitude.
“My grandmother has been having difficulty paying my school fees, but since last year, the Women of Glory Foundation has been paying my school fees. I’m very happy, I have never been shown love like this and I’m really grateful,” she said.
Another beneficiary, David Michael in Basic 5B, also disclosed how the initiative by WOG has eased the burden on his mother.
“My dad is late and since my mother was not able to pay, the Women of Glory Foundation has been paying my school fees since Basic 2. I’m very happy and I pray that God continues to bless them.”
