EDUCATION DRIVER… ARE YOU ONE?

Education is considered one of the foremost basic rights parents shouldn’t deny their children. This is because education is believed to give a child the leverage needed to be aware of things happening all around him/her, and allows for exploration of various opportunities which may otherwise not be available to him/her.

It is however saddening that recently Premium Times reported that Nigeria has about 13.2 million out-of-school children. This estimation was made by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) through a survey and reported by Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of UBEC at a pre- conference briefing in Abuja.

It is however saddening that recently Premium Times reported that Nigeria has about 13.2 million out-of-school children.

Various reasons such as poverty, displacement, war, culture, ignorance on the part of the parents, and even beliefs account for why many children are not in school when they should be. However, for a nation whose leadership will soon be taken over by her youths, education of the younger generation is very vital as they will grow up to take over the business, political and health sectors, amidst other sectors of our country.

For this reason majorly, one could say, various organizations act their parts in ensuring that kids of today are educated and that their minds are prepared for future tasks.

Various projects are carried out from time to time by both governmental and non-governmental organizations. At times, individuals who are concerned about the future of the nation also take up projects to see to it that kids are educated.

‘Send a Child to School’ (SCSC) initiative is aimed at helping vulnerable children get educated in order to reduce future illiteracy, by assisting them to get into school and remain in school.

One of such projects taking children out of the streets and getting them educated is a Community Development Project (CDP) initiated by Valentine Momoh and inspired by the Centre for Social Awareness, Advocacy and Ethics (CSAAE). Valentine Momoh is an Effective African Leader (EAL) at CSAAE and an undergraduate at the University of Benin, Nigeria. His CDP, ‘Send a Child to School’ (SCSC) initiative is aimed at helping vulnerable children get educated in order to reduce future illiteracy, by assisting them to get into school and remain in school. It is also aimed at bringing about ethical orientation and reorientation of the mindset of these children, as well as carrying out ethics campaigns in schools. Inspired by a student hawking to save up for her West African Examination Council (WAEC) examination, Valentine decided to play his own part in fueling education in Nigeria.

Another CDP initiated by EAL Igwe Priscilia, a graduate of Ebonyi state university is the ‘No Child Dropout Initiative’ (NCDI), which is based on improving literacy among children. This project inspired by CSAAE is aimed at reinstating primary school dropouts back to school. The ‘No Child Dropout Initiative’ also focuses on providing mentoring services to children to help them remain in school, with a focus on the rural areas where the importance of education is not well emphasized. Priscilia distributes school materials like notebooks, textbooks, biros, pencils, etc to the pupils. She educates parents on the importance of sending their children to school and provides necessary advice and help in sending the children back to school.

With projects like this and many others undertaken by concerned individuals who are doing their best to ensure that young children are adequately educated, the tank is being filled and soon we can experience positive change in all aspects of our educational system.

At CSAAE, youths are trained to take over the mantle of leadership, not only in Nigeria but in Africa for good. We are trained to become the new generation of leaders and workforce who can fast-track development and end poverty in Africa.

CSAAE is dedicated to harnessing the potential of youths and endowing us with the capacities, competencies and character necessary to sustain ourselves, create opportunities that help others sustain themselves and embrace our roles as critical actors in building a better Africa. Youths are trained to take up community problems and act their parts to provide solutions and make a significant difference. Whether it is health, education, politics or the judicial sector, CSAAE youths are making a good difference.

Mariam Hamzat (ENL)

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About Our Founder
Father-Godswill-Agbagwa
Fr. Godswill Agbagwa

Godswill Uchenna Agbagwa is a Catholic priest and a social ethicist. He was born in Umueze Amaimo, a small village in Ikeduru LGA of Imo State to Mr. Charlyman Chikamnele Agbagwa and Mrs. Evelyn Chinyere Agbagwa of blessed memory.