An Ogun State-based non-profit organization, Jofunmi Loving Heart Foundation, has urged parents facing economic hardship not to withdraw their children from school, warning that doing so would deprive them of future opportunities to benefit from the nation’s resources.
The Foundation acknowledged the rising cost of education but emphasized that parents, especially those disillusioned with the current government, should persevere in educating their children.
The organization stressed that by ensuring their children receive an education, parents are laying the groundwork for the next generation to participate in governance and effect positive change.
Project Coordinator of the Foundation, Olusola Ojo, spoke with journalists on Thursday, advising parents to focus on two key priorities during these challenging times: survival and providing their children with a quality education.
Ojo urged parents to instil values in their children that would prepare them to combat corruption and contribute to a better Nigeria when they assume positions of power in the future.
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Ojo further explained that the Foundation’s vision for a better Nigeria begins with the new generation, who are less exposed to corruption.
She emphasized the need for parents and society to reorient the youth away from corrupt practices.
In light of the economic challenges leading up to the September school resumption, Jofunmi Loving Heart Foundation distributed basic school supplies to over 350 school children across three communities—Kobape, Libegu, and Onipepeye—in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area.
This initiative, part of the Foundation’s “Back-to-School” program, aims to support families and ensure a smooth start to the academic year despite the economic downturn.
Ojo highlighted that the Foundation’s intervention is a response to the alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, currently estimated at 18.3 million according to a UNICEF report from May 2024.
The Foundation provided nearly 400 pupils and secondary school students with essential items, including school bags, sandals, water bottles, stationery, food flasks, and food items, amounting to millions of Naira.
Ojo explained that the program was initiated out of a recognition that the current economic situation makes it difficult for families to meet their children’s educational needs.
“With the rising cost of school supplies, we wanted to ensure that children remain in school and continue their education. Our belief is that government alone cannot address all needs, so we stepped in to provide some relief to parents.”
She expressed concern over the state of education in Nigeria, criticizing successive governments for neglecting the sector.
Ojo urged a reversal of this trend, noting that those who benefited from free education in the past are now in positions of power, yet fail to provide similar opportunities for the current generation.
“We are calling on the government and well-meaning citizens to invest in educational infrastructure and resources. Whether it’s rehabilitating classrooms, providing furniture, or supplying books, every effort counts. It’s time for education to take its rightful place as a priority in Nigeria,” she said.
Ojo concluded by encouraging parents not to give up on their children’s education, as it is the key to unlocking future opportunities.
“An educated child has a world of opportunities ahead of them. Limiting a child’s education due to financial constraints is limiting their future potential. Parents must do everything in their power to ensure their children receive a quality education, as this is the surest path to ensuring they become tomorrow’s policymakers.”
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