NGO distributes 50,000 books, 15,000 pen to schools in Kogi »

…says gesture to complement govt. effort in advancing basic education.

A Non Governmental Organization, Sea Care Foundation has on Monday commenced the distribution of over 50,000 exercise books, 15,000 pens to both public and private schools in the six local government area of the state.

This gesture according to the Chairman of the organising committee Al-Amin Ogejah in his welcome address was to complement the efforts of the state governor to further reposition basic education in the state.

He asserted that the first phase of the distribution would cover both public and private schools in Ajaokuta, Okehi, Adavi , Lokoja, Ogori-Magongo and Okene local government areas of the state while the second phase of the programme would concentrate on the eastern senatorial district of Kogi State.

The Chairman mentioned that the foundation would in no distant time venture into Agriculture, health, youth and women empowerment to help better lives at the grassroots While he admonished well meaning individuals and corporate organisations in the State to contribute to education.

Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Mr Wemi Jones while flagging off the exercise commended the founder of Sea Care Foundation for keying into Governor Yahaya Bello’s agenda aimed at uplifting the educational sector in the State.

The commissioner also called on influential people in the state to invest in education alluding that investments made in education produce a more guaranteed future for children

He said “Governor Bello had shown sufficient passion and commitment in education. 20 per cent of the state income annually goes to education which was why a lot of development is happening in the sector since he came on board as the Executive Governor of the state”.

The Commissioner noted that that Kogi State Government has fully enacted education law , including the prohibition of school age children from hawking during school hours, the prohibition of the operations of private schools in the state without registration with the ministry of education.

The Commissioner for health Dr Saka Haruna in his message appreciated the Chairman of the foundation, Abdulrahim Sani for investing in education, noting that the choice of the sector was timely .

The Ohi of Eganyi and Chairman Ajaokuta traditional council HRH Alhaji Musa Ochuja in his goodwill message , described education as one of the sector that can easily affect development of any nation, appealing to well meaning sons and daughters of the state to contribute their quota to the development of basic education.

He also applauded the commitment of the Chairman of Sea Care Foundation for contributing immensely towards the development of education in Kogi State