By CrossRiverWatch Admin
A non-profit organization, Val Orphanage, and Educational Foundation have donated educational materials and financial assistance to over 300 pupils in four primary schools in two local government areas of Cross River State.
The two days educational intervention project was held in three primary schools in Odukpani LGA and one in Ekori, Yakurr LGA on March 21 – 22, 2023.
The pet project of Valerie Osuake Omini (nee Valerie Eyoma Asuquo) is focused on girl child and boy education.
In Odukpani, pairs of sandals were distributed to indigent and orphaned pupils (who came to school barefooted or tattered shoe wears) in three primary schools – St. Patrick Primary School Adiabo Ikot Ndo, Government Primary School Akim Akim, and St. Theresa Primary School. They also distributed exercise books, erasers, pens, and sharpeners.
In Ekori community, Yakurr LGA, the humanitarian intervention was held at Government Migrant Primary School, Ekori Beach where financial assistance was given to 100 recipient pupils of the school. The exercise also included paying of three terms school fees, First School Leaving Certificate, FSLC, examination fees, and donating writing materials among others to indigent pupils.
The Founder of Val Orphanage and Educational Foundation, Valerie Osuake said the project is poised to encourage both genders to get an equal education.
“I embarked on it mostly in the rural area of Cross River State because most poor people live in the rural areas and they are faced with a lot of challenges such as unemployment, high level of illiteracy, extreme poverty, poor infrastructures, and low social interaction. The project is aimed at encouraging the parents and pupils to get basic education,” Omini who was represented by Efio-Ita Nyok said.
Applauding the gesture by the foundation, the headteacher of St. Patrick Primary School, Adiabo Ikot Ndo, Odukpani, Evang. Augustina Effiong Ita expressed gratitude that the pupils who are largely indigent homes will be positively impacted.
She said, “In fact, what you have just done today, the children who are not in school today will regret ever staying away from school, you know children being who they are, they will feel you will keep on coming, and the turnout from tomorrow will be impressive, some of them will not want to stay back from school again.”
On his part, Mr. Ofor Itam Bassey the headteacher of Government Migrant Primary School, Ekori Beach noted that it is difficult for the majority of parents and wards to pay school fees, adding that the gesture by the foundation “is very, very impactful, you see the smiles on the faces of the parents, they are very happy”.
The second phase of the foundation’s outreach will take place at Akpabuyo and Bakassi LGAs until every school in all the 18 LGAs of the State is impacted.
