The Rotary Club of Abuja Gwarinpa Central has launched an education support initiative for indigent pupils, with plans to pay school fees, provide school bags and improve learning facilities in selected public schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The club’s president, Ama Umoren, disclosed this during her investiture ceremony in Abuja, saying the intervention was informed by needs identified during visits to public schools.

She said the club found that many pupils could not afford examination fees and other school related expenses despite the government’s free basic education policy.

“We will pursue projects because they solve real problems,” Umoren said.

She explained that the club also found overcrowded classrooms, inadequate furniture and children sharing seats in some schools, adding that the projects would focus on addressing such challenges. 

“We are going to make sure that most of those children can take those examinations as and when due, have their fees cleared and have school bags they can carry,” she said.

Umoren added that the club would also focus on maternal and child health, youth empowerment, vocational development and membership growth during the Rotary year.

Chairman of the occasion, Benjamin Okoko, announced that his family would sponsor the payment of school fees for the identified pupils and support the provision of school bags, accessories and classroom desks.

“They used to drive me from school because of school fees. Whenever I see things like this, it hits me at my core,” Okoko said.

He added, “My family will take the school fees completely. We will also support the provision of school bags, accessories and school desks.”

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of former House of Representatives member, Onofiok Luke, Sunday Etim said Nigeria’s education system continues to face major challenges, with millions of children still out of school.

Etim said an estimated 20 million Nigerian children were out of school, while many pupils who complete primary education still lack basic literacy and numeracy skills.

He noted that inadequate funding, insecurity, poor learning outcomes and shortages of qualified teachers remained major obstacles to quality education.