Every
second that ticks, millions of children across Africa and the world may never
have that opportunity to get primary education. Many could be due to the lack
of proper orientation and access to schools, others could be due to social
constraints such as conflicts, early marriages, disabilities while the majority
say its poverty. UNESCO estimates 57 million children globally are not in
school; over 10 million of these are Nigerian children, the highest National
rate in the world.
As
part of efforts at combating this trend, the Slum To School Africa Project took
its education enrolment campaign to the Makoko Area of Lagos. About 360 school
age children who were hitherto not in school were enrolled in school, most from
the fishing community, on the river side of Makoko, Yaba, Lagos.
About
500 primary school pupils from various parts of Makoko were there to welcome
the newly enrolled pupils. Headteachers, teachers and politicians from the area
notable among whom were Honourable Francis Samson, community leader and
representative from the Yaba Area Council, Alase Francis Agotan, Head of Baale,
Baale Daniel Hungbeji, Victor Barnabas Balogun and Iyalode Mary Gbetohomen.
Most
of the newly enrolled pupils had been out of school according to Mr Otto
Orondaam, head of the NGO, due to poverty, ignorance and apathy on the part of
the parents of the children. Mr Otto also mentioned that "this is the
third edition of the programme". Two had taken place earlier in Epe and
Bariga areas of the state. Otto also seized the opportunity to thank his stakeholders
who donated school items like bags, books, tables, chairs and other educational
needs.
Most
of the parents expressed joy that their children were going back to school. Iyalode
Mary Gbetohomen enthused that, the initiative that Slum to School Africa has
brought to Makoko is very laudable. The Makoko edition of the Slum to School
Africa programme also featured music, dance and cultural display in Egun,
Yoruba and English.
As
a volunteer driven organization, Slum2School Africa over the last year has
attracted over 1000 volunteers from over 15 countries who have given in their
time to ensure that they bring hope to vulnerable children in remote
communities and slums across Nigeria and Africa.
Reporting by Biyi Akinsola, Editing by Ayodeji
Jeremiah
