Ogun Custom donates uniforms, educational materials, others to public schools

As part of its efforts to support border communities and enhance community relations, the Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun 1 Area Command, has provided educational support to 100 primary school pupils selected from 5 schools in Idiroko, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The education support, according to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of Ogun 1 Area Command, Hammed Oloyede, was in collaboration with a Non-Government Organization (NGO) Teach for Nigeria.

Schools that benefited from the support include Community Primary School Igbo Adiguns; Community Primary school, Odan Aje; Ipokia Local Government (IPLG) School 1 & II Idiroko, and Ipokia Local Government School, Ikolaje.

Oloyede explained that the NGO through three of its members, Mrs Akanbi Olutoyosi, Mr Mathew Emmanuel and Mrs Obot Aniebietabasi, had approached the Command with Cloth-a-Child Initiative, a pet project of the NGO, and sought its support.

The Customs PRO in the statement added that during a visit by the NGO to the Customs Area Controller in charge of the Command, Ahmadu Shuaibu, disclosed that it had identified 20 pupils from 5 primary primary schools with tattered school uniforms and difficulties in relating with their fellow pupils, hence, the decision to provide the support.

The Command, while commending the initiative and considered it a laudable project, expanded the scope of the initiative by making the proposed pair of uniforms with only socks to a complete set and included writing materials such as books and stationery for the pupils.

It also added chalks and white board markers for the selected schools to teach the pupils.

Speaking during the presentation ceremony attended by the management team of Ogun 1 Command, representative of the Department of State Security, members of the Education Board, head teachers of various schools, parents, Idiroko youths and other important personalities, at the IPLG school I & II Idiroko, Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller Administration, Charles Ogunesan, congratulated the beneficiaries of the initiative.

“He urged their parents to reciprocate the gesture by taking their children’s educational progression seriously and look after their well-being keenly. He described children as great blessings from God Almighty which must not be taken for granted. He applauded the NGO for introducing such a great initiative”, the statement said.

In her remarks, the Ipokia Local Government Education Secretary, Mrs Oduntan Ireti, commended the collaborative efforts of the NCS and the NGO in uplifting the learning condition of the selected pupils.

Also speaking, the Education Officer in Ipokia LG, Mr Bankole Joseph, appreciated the kind gesture of Ogun I Command of the Nigeria Customs Service and urged it to sustain the established synergy with the Education Board in the local government.

While praying for God’s protection for the leadership and officers of the command, he lauded the NGO for championing such a wonderful initiative in favour of their pupils, urging it to sustain the tempo.

Speaking on behalf of the pupils, Hunnesi Florence, a primary 5 pupil of the Community Primary School, Igbo Adiguns, thanked the command for supporting them with sets of uniforms and writing materials.