Why we decided to defray Primary School Pupils' fees

Yagba West Local Government Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Kogi State has said it decided to bear the burden of school fees of one hundred selected primary school pupils to inculcate in the young ones the character of giving to the less fortunate.

The Coordinator, Comrade Sunday Dada made the statement in an interview with our correspondent in Odo-Ere immediately after the conclusion of the exercise which saw students across select primary schools in the area benefitting.

Comrade Dada said the intention of the council under him was to see that students in both primary and secondary schools benefitted, saying that his vision was to ensure that youths and potential leaders get important foundation for their growth, a large component of which is education.

Beyond the initiative, the coordinator also said the council was encouraged to carry out the programme in view of the commitment shown by the present administration at both state and Local Government levels, which has culminated in the good fortune for the sector in the state.

He noted that since his assumption office, he has worked closely with members of his executive and leaders at all levels to ensure they change the story of the youths for the better.

The coordinator stressed; “The fees were paid for some less privileged and indigent pupils whose parents can not afford to pay due to their economic standing in the society.”

Reacting to the gesture, the Head Teacher of ECWA LGEA school in Egbe – Tuntun, Mrs Ayodele commended the council for the kind gesture and appealed for its sustenance to ensure smooth academic life for the pupils.

She called on other public spirited individuals not to dump the burden of quality education on government alone, adding that the responsibility of training children was that of the society at large, and not only the parents and other caregivers.

Also speaking, the headmaster of Yagba West LGEA Okoloke, Mr Olokun Ajayi expressed gratitude to the team of NYCN for deeming it fit to help less privilege pupils in the school, commend the council for extending their gesture to rural dwellers.

Parents and other caregivers who recated to the gesture also lavished praises on the youth body for coming to their aides and prayed God to prosper them.

Some of the benefitting schools include; ECWA Yagba West LGEA Schools 1&2 Odo – Ere; Model School Igbaruku; ECWABSchool ll Ejiba and Odo – Egbe, Salvation Army School I&II among others.