Maryam Abeeb, Abuja
A non-governmental organisation, known as I-A Foundation, has said it is planning to reduce the number of out-of-school children on the streets by encouraging them to enroll in public schools.
During a briefing held in Lagos, the Founder of the NGO, Mrs Ronke Adeagbo, said the gesture was part of its contribution its to the development of the education sector.
Adeagbo said, “The foundation will pay the bursary of children from poor homes and reward excellence. Education drives the economy and educational institutions are the engine room where this happens. Therefore, everyone must have access to good education.
“If anyone develops a passion for learning, such a person will not cease to grow. Education is not preparation for life; it is life itself. An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.’’
She added that the foundation would work with government at all levels to ensure the success of the scheme, which had already kicked off in Nasarawa, Lagos and Ogun states.
‘’In Nasarawa state, we visited an Internally Displaced Persons camp, filled with children. They were sacked from their ancestral homes by terrorists, but I saw passion to learn in the eyes of the children. We took some teachers there to teach English and Mathematics. After the visits and encounter what next?
“The foundation is planning to set up an endowment fund for bright children. And there are criteria for the selection of such children,” she said.
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