The Florish Foundation for Women and Youths, on Wednesday distributed school materials to 100 indigent students at Utese Secondary School, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo.
Dr Frances Ben-Ushie, Executive Director of the foundation, in a statement in Benin, said the donation which was in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was part of its back-to-school initiative.
Ben-Ushie, who doubles as the NYSC Edo, Coordinator, also said that the initiative was borne out of compassion for children who risked dropping out of school due to lack of basic learning materials.
“Education is the foundation of every great society. We don’t want children to be left behind simply because their parents cannot afford school supplies.
“That is why we are sending 100 children back to school this year.
“We deeply appreciate our partners and supporters who made this possible, and I urge the beneficiaries to make the most use of this opportunity”, she said.
Delivering a keynote address on the theme “The Power of Education: School no be Scam,” the President, Rotary Club of Benin GRA, Paul Suleman, urged the students to embrace education as the most reliable tool for building a meaningful future.
“Education is not a scam. It is the power that transforms destinies and nations.
“Take your studies seriously so that you can become productive citizens who will one day give back to society,” he charged.
Appreciating the organisers, the Principal of Utese Secondary School, Mrs Igbinadolor Ifuakor, described the event as unforgettable.
“This will remain indelible in the minds of our students.
“We are especially grateful to Florish Foundation for choosing our school, and to Rotary Club of Benin GRA for donating a mowing machine alongside cash rewards for our debate participants,” she said.
The event featured performances by corps members and students, with the highlight being a debate session.
The debate, which was between the host school and Rosa Mystica Catholic Secondary School, Egbeta, was on the motion “The Future of Every Child Depends More on Education than Skills.”
The contest drew applause from guests, while Rotary Club further spiced it with N10,000 cash prizes for each debating student.
Items distributed include school bags, mathematical sets, exercise books, writing materials, and new uniforms for selected beneficiaries.
20 students of Domain International Group of Schools, Evboneka, also received brand-new school uniforms as part of the outreach.
