By Stella Odueme
May 27th of every year is a day set aside to celebrate children and put smiles on their faces.
To this end, PEGA & Friends Foundation, a non-profit non-governmental organisation took it upon itself to reach out to the downtrodden in the society; women, youths and children especially, to give them hope and make life worth living.
The foundation visited some schools across Nigeria.
Some of the beneficiary schools are: LEA Primary School JAHI Kadokuchi in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
Saint Peters Anglican Primary School, Ologorin, Ogun State,
African Church School, Yobo and
Christ African Church Primary School Igbore, Abeokuta among others.
The joy of pupils and teachers of these selected schools knew no bound as Pega and friends Foundation celebrated the Children’s Day with them.
According to the Director of PEGA, Prince Ekunola Gbenga Abraham, the foundation celebrated the Children’s Day with a mission statement to help the less-privileged children in Nigeria achieve their maximum potentials by empowering them to create a brighter future.
A total of 6,500 children were given educational relief materials and encouraged to be regular and punctual in school.
The Foundation championed by the Mandela of Yewa Land, Ekunola and some members visited these schools to celebrate the children’s day.
Members of the foundation who came from all parts of the country were seen having fun with the pupils as they charged them for a better tomorrow.
Ekunola speaking through the Chairperson Social Committee of the foundation, Madam Sunmisola Adeyemi, said he was delighted to deliver on the mission statement of the foundation by giving back to the less-privileged children in the society who he noted were the future of tomorrow.
He said he was never in doubt of the potentials that less-privileged children possess adding that for them to attain their full potentials they must be supported by well-meaning individuals in the society and corporate bodies, who he stated have crucial roles to play in capacity development of these young ones.
Responding, Head Teacher of LEA Primary School JAHI Kadokuchi FCT, Lady Arhanmhunde Edith thanked Pega for remembering pupils in her school, noting that it was a unique gesture being extended to them. Arhanmhunde urged successful Nigerians to help the needy in the society, warning that failure to do so would only increase the number of delinquent children in the country.
Also Mrs. Bello, Head Teacher of Saint Peters Anglican Primary School, Ologorin, Ogun State expressed gratitude to the foundation for the gesture.
”We thank Gbenga Ekunola and his friends for this kind gesture and hope that others will emulate him so that the future of these little ones will be brighter,” Bello said.
While receiving the quests, the Head Teacher of African Church School, Yobo said that though the school have been neglected by those expected to be supporting its growth, thanked Pega and Friends Foundation for associating with them and creating as well as making impact on the society.
The atmosphere was not different at Christ African Church Primary School Igbore, Abeokuta, as the students were so happy to received the foundation.
The traditional ruler of Pahayi, Emmanuel Olabisi Ekunola lauded the kind gesture of the Pega and friends Foundation, describing it as save our souls intervention.
Prince Ekunola of PEGA foundation who is also the Coordinator of Yewa Connecting Minds hails from Pahayi, a town via Ilaro-Yewa in Ogun State.
It would be recalled that the foundation had also visited many schools, correctional centres, motherless homes and villages across Nigeria to support the less privileged.
