A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in education sector in Kogi State, has commenced the donation of thousands of note books and school bags to the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, to be distributed to schools across the state.

Speaking while taken the delivery of the materials in his office in Lokoja on Friday, the Commissioner of the Ministry, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, thanked the donor, who preferred to remain anonymous, for heeding the call of the State Government to boosting education sector in the state.

Jones noted that the School Adoption And Mentorship Programme, is achieving a tremendous success across the state, while appreciating His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for his commitment to revamping education sector in the state.

According to him, the school adoption and mentorship programme is an initiative of the Kogi State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, which has gone through all levels of approval including that of the State Executive Council (SEC).

Jones noted that the intention was to get every major stakeholder in Kogi State to give back to the educational system in the state, which include: public office holders at Federal State and Local Government levels.

Others are: traditional rulers, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, senior civil servants, community based leaders, union leaders, old students associations, civil society organisations and nongovernmental organizations, among others.

”The intention is for all the targeted stakeholders to go back to schools especially secondary schools of their choice to teach students and also give them motivational speeches, their true life stories and stories of historical heroes, among others.

He stressed that it would also see how they could intervene in addressing one issue or the other in the school, saying, ”it is difficult to find anybody who is somebody today that has not passed through one form of educational system or the other.

”We need to change the psyche of these children, address the society and do things that will change the wrong their mentality.

”Morality is at its lowest ebb, but the truth is that when a successful adult outside the teachers and parents, talk to these children, the tendency that they may want to listen is there.

”We want our leaders, stakeholders to come and share their past, stories and experiences with these children,” he reiterated.

Jones added that the state government also want to reduce the incidence of young school leavers being converted to thugs and cultists, saying this could be achieved by talking to the children continuously.

”After the launch of the program, we reach out to a good number of people through letters, and I am glad that the response has been tremendous.

”When we conceived this program, I never imagined we are going to achieve this level of positive feedback.

”As I speak with you, somebody who does not want his name to be mentioned has committed himself to the production of note books and school bags in tens of thousands, and God’s willing as soon as school resume for the third term, we are going to commence the distribution of the materials as specified by the donor,” Jones said.

He added that some old student associations have also contacted him on their intention to go back to their alma mata to do lots of intervention projects to complement government’s efforts in infrastructural development.

He emphasised that the Government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has committed huge some of money towards the renovations and revamping of the schools’ structures across the 21 local government areas of the state.

”I have also got various calls and comments from people coming forth to say they would want to be part of it.

”I thanked the various stakeholders in Kogi State for showing so much interest in the project, because anybody that is showing interest in education, definitely, he is passionate about the future of our dear state.

”I can tell you that among all the programmes I have executed as Commissioner which have been fully supported by His Excellency, this is the program that has received the widest commendation and patronage,” he said.

The Commissioner thanked His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for his strong support and commitment to revamping and developing education in the state.

He further called on all stakeholders to ensure full participation in the programme as well as contributing their own quota in an attempt to revamping and developing education in the state for future sake.

”This is a journey that we are going to undergo together, and we expect that even subsequent governments would put it into our system in Kogi State”, he said

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The LMF has trained and equipped youths and women with vocational and technical skills for improved livelihoods and productivity toward reducing poverty and unemployment in Nigeria.

In view of this, LFM Executive Director, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, on Friday unveiled a six-month Co-curriculum on Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) skills for Entrepreneurship and Employability for 31 students of Junior Government Secondary School (JSS), Pyakasa, Lugbe, Abuja.

The first batch of 31 students were selected out of 100 participants of the free scalable training which will run during school period, weekend and during holidays from July to December 2021.

The 100 benefiaries comprised 31 Senior Secondary Students, 30 JSS students and 39 school drop outs/ teenage parents for the training on Garments making and catering trade crafts.

The foundation also acquired and displayed sewing machines and several equipment for catering training for empowering the beneficiaries while they will equally be connected to practicing artisans and showcase individual projects in exhibition upon graduation.

Osikaya said the training became necessary due to high number of out of school children while most children in schools aspired for white collar jobs, and often completed basic education without vocational skills.

According to her, this, against a background of robust education policy provision that children should acquire vocational skills by completion of JSS 3 should be an issue of concern to all.

She noted the aim of TVET project as to cultivate and engender interest in entrepreneurship in young people, build leadership skills, maximise their potentials, identify skills and expose participants to career paths.

The LMF boss explained that to achieve its specific objectives, support of wide array of stakeholders through donation, sponsorship, material and expert skills support were required.

“The YECAP is designed to ensure participants develop market ready, employable skills at the end of six months in line with National Business, Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) Modular Skills Syllabus.

“The National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) launch in 2018 provides to policy framework for equating informal and non informal education but sensitisation remains limited.

“Stigmatisation of TVET is prevalent in many communities but the LMF presents credible platforms for effective sensitisation and advocacy because it is designed to meet the requirements, ” she said.

In a remark, Mr Kashim Ali, Vice Chairman, LMF Board of Trustees said the NGO started operations in 2017 in Kogi state following observed need for sustainable interventions in quality skills development for survival and gainful employment/entrepreneurship.

Ali disclosed that it established CVI in 2018 and had constructed two functional vocational training centres in rural and urban locations in KogiNAN while it had trained over 500 people.

“It provides 100 per cent free training and accommodation for poor rural youth since inception to improve livelihoods but sadly the support scaled down due to COVID-19 impact on the NGO’s funding,” he noted.

In an appreciation, Hajia Amina Abdullahi, the Principal of the school expressed gratitude to the NGO for considering the school to extend its charitable gesture for economic development.

Abdullahi however advised the students to utilise the opportunity to gain skills knowledge which was trending for self reliance.

The students also expressed enthusiasm and joy to participate in the training, adding that they were overwhelmed by the privilege and promised not to dissapoint the NGO and the school authority.

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An NGO, Socio Economic Research and Development Centre (SERDEC), has called on Government at all levels to embrace the spirit of accountability and transparency in budgeting process.

The SERDEC National Coordinator for the launch of the North Central States Budget Transparency Survey Report 2020, Mr Tijani Abdulkareem, made the call during the stakeholders forum held on Saturday in Lokoja.

According to him, the stakeholders forum is usually put in place every two years by SERDEC to evaluate states’ survey on accountability and transparency in budgeting process.

He said the target was aimed at bringing stakeholders together to see workable avenues in building accountability and transparency in budgeting.

Abdulkareem said that more need to be done by government at all levels in ensuring involvement of public participation in the budgeting process.

“Openness, enlightenment and engagement of citizens in budgeting process is highly desirable and will serve as an effective feedback mechanism” Abdulkareem said.

Speaking at the forum, the Kogi State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Asiwaju Idris, urged NGOs to surport the state government in its development efforts through effective contributions to the budgeting process.

The commissioner assured that the state government would continue to partner relevant NGOs and Donor Agencies for accelerated development of the state.

Idris disclosed that the Ten years Development Plan of the present administration in the state would give priority to education, health, agriculture and job creation sectors as well as youth and women empowerment.

He expressed delight that the present administration since inception, had judiciously utilised all the monies that had accrued to the government for the benefit of humanity. (NAN)

Cal-Maji Foundation a nongovernmental organization gifted visited Orphanage Homes across Kogi state to mark this year Boxing day. This year project which was tagged “Feed A Thousand Initiative” #FATKogi.

The aim behind the project was to feed a total of 37,000 vulnerable people across Nigeria during this year festive period with at least 1000 per state.

Kogi was not left out as the team visited Orphanage homes in Lokoja and Okene respectively with food items, toiletries and the likes in celebration with the Orphans on boxing day.

The State Project Team Lead, Kareem Abdulraheem Onivehu in his remarks during the visitation to the Orphanage home expresses the foundation passion, drives to identify with the Orphans and appreciate their existence.

Kareem charges the Orphans not to get discouraged and see themselves as a strong inclusive members of the society who also has the right to live well, relates with others outside their homes, and enjoy all freedom, benefits which every other members of the society derives in their environment.

He said Cal-Maji Foundation and her sister organization will keep on sharing the light of love even outside the periods of festivities; “We are determined to serve humanity through various sustainable approach, means within our capabilities, we have such a beautiful and good hearted people, volunteers, partners always at the call to service in identifying with people in need such as the Orphans, the vulnerable and all other categories of people in this circle in our society”.

The NGO appreciate all their partners (IbiFoundation, HassanAbdul Foundation) for their support and the local organization who joined volunteers (YALIKogi, Activista Kogi, SI4Dev, Bridge Inspire Foundation…)in the outreach to the various orphanage homes.

An Ilorin based Non – Governmental Organization, Reach Out Care has empowered over 20 vulnerable people in the state.

The empowerment program which was held at Christ Apostolic Church, Egbejila on Saturday has in attendance artisans, widows and indigent students.

Speaking with our reporter shortly after the event, the convener, Pastor Onaolapo Kolade charged the beneficiaries to use the handout to better their lives.

According to him, ‘it is pertinent on any well to do people in the society to reach out to the less privileged one so that they can maximize their potentials in life.

“The rationale for this initiative born down to the fact that God created everyone of us to fulfill a destiny. And one way or the other he want us to reach out to people around us.

” This NGO was initiated out of the desire to help people to reach their potentials in life. Am 50 years today, and I want to belief that God has used some people to help me reach where I am today.

“It is my turn now through this initiative which is Non-governmental to begin to raise women and the vulnerable in the society,” Kolade said.

He added that NGO is in synergy and partnership with some organization and in soonest time it will extend its tentacles by reaching out to donors across the globe.

“We have just started and by his grace, we had got partnership with some people from Golden Heart Foundation. We belief God that very soon we will get more synergy with others.

” For clarity sake, the NGO has assisted and empowered over 20 vulnerable people ranging from widows, artisans and indigent students.

“So far so good we have spent over N1.2 million to this initiative. In soonest time we will expand our empowerment program to rural communities,” the clergyman affirmed.

He however charges the well to do people in the society to always puts the downtrodden at heart by sharing their wealth with the less privileged one.

In his key note address at the event, Oyedeji Olufemi urged Nigerians to be accountable and responsible as its key values for a better society.

“We do know that accountability is key to national development, community development and even at the family units.

“Once you are given a responsibility, it is expected that you will be diligent in the management if resources at your disposal on behalf of others.

” Lack of accountability leads to distrust as you can see what is happening in our society today. Lack of accountability has been a propeller to corruption, ” Oyedeji concluded.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with our reporter shortly after the event thank the donor for coming to their aids and cushion their business plight.