S4C Feds School Children In Abia, Imo, Wants Govt. To Add Value To Pupils Lives, Education
Dan Opara
A reputable registered Non-Profit Organization called “Spaces for Change (S4C), that was established in May 2011, and working to infuse human rights into social and economic governance processes in Nigeria, has continued to empower the people of the South-Eastern States of Nigeria, especially the pupils through their homegrown feeding programme.
The management of the organization who have decided to use the human rights framework and youth-centered strategies, the organization aims to increase the participation of Nigerian children, youths, women and other marginalized constituencies in social and economic development, and also help public authorities and corporate entities to put a human rights approach.
Spaces for Change, S4C, which began 9 years ago as an online youth movement on Facebook and some other social media platforms with the objective to provide a coordinated standard for the youths to engage in an informed debate about social and economic policies and programs in Nigeria, to this moment has not relented.
In a swift media chat with newsmen shortly after a day seminar organized in Owerri, after the organizations’ workshop in Abia State, the Executive Director of Spaces for Change, S4C, Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, expressed delight for the successful one-day sensitization programme held in Owerri, the capital city of Imo State.
“S4C programme is being funded by the United Kingdom, UK, through Trust Africa. Our funding, support, and contacts also connects and encourages schools children (pupils) through one of our programmes known as Home Grown Feeding Programme.
We are more interested in young people from aged 16-24 years, so as to assist them to start and run social ventures that unlock the potential of unused or under-utilized spaces for the benefit of the local community, especially other young people”, Executive Director submitted.
Ibezim-Ohaeri, frowned at the rate of school drop-out, which according to her have increased from 10.5 to 13.5 million within 4 years from across the country.
“School attendance is on the decrease on daily basis. More quality educational support and feeding support are needed. We need to draw the attention of the government very closely. We have a passionate interest in the Southeast, especially in that was the reason we commenced our homegrown feeding with Abia State and in Imo State.
We are running a programme of action. about 6% enrollments of our children are not in school”, She stated.
According to her, “due to hungry and lack of fund, so. many parents are unable to afford their school fees and good feeding”.
Adding his voice, the Imo S4C Programme Manager, for Home Grown School Feeding, Elder B.N.Okonkwo, thanked the NGO for their utmost concern towards enhancing the well being of pupils in the Nigerian society.
He said the programme is aimed at sustaining the children mostly those in the public schools whose parents can not afford their adequate feeding.
Elder Okonkwo, therefore, called for the sustainability of the programme in Nigeria and appealed to the govt.not to stop only the junior primary school pupils but should be increased to all levels of education in the country.
He commended those who attended the seminar for their high responses to the invitation, which he described as a show of commitment.
Also, Comr. Stanley Mbagwu, who represented State Coordinator, Mrs. Modeine Osuigwe, thanked the Federal Govt.and the organizers of the summit, even as he described the programme as right steps in a right direction that needed to be sustained for the general interest of the unborn generation.
