NGO Donates School Materials To Less-privilege Children In Delta

A Non-governmental organization (NGO), Anioma Youth Network for Development (AYND) has donated school materials to hundreds of orphaned school children across Anioma communities in Delta state.

Founder and President of the organisation, Mr. Sunday Odita told our correspondent in an interview Saturday in Onitcha-Ugbo that the Back-to-School project is his contribution to development of the less-privilage children.

“What I am doing today is my own little way of giving support to orphaned children to return to school after the holiday.

“Every year, as school resumes for a new academic calendar, not every child has the same privilege to acquire the necessary learning materials.

“This is why I initiated this Back to School project three years ago, as a way of giving back to the society,”

“This year’s edition is mainly targeted at orphans who may not have any hope of resuming school,” he said.

Odita, who is a senior journalist with the Guardian Newspaper, gave out school bags, books, bibles, novels, dictionaries, electronic calculators and mathematical sets at a ceremony held Saturday.

According to him, the Back-to-School project was initiated in 2017 with the objective of providing assistance and support to orphaned children.

He disclosed that over the past two years of the programme, hundreds of pupils and students from various communities in Anioma area have benefitted.

Odita, who is also the National President of Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN), said the project is hinged on the  philosophy of “Don’t Give To Get, but Give To Inspire”.

Our correspondent reports that the programme was attended by hundreds of pupils and students of schools from seven Anioma communities.

The seven communities include, Onitcha-Ugbo, Obior, Issele-Uku, Igbodo, Asaba, Ubulu-Uku and Idumuje-Ugboko.

In his remark, the royal father of the day, HRH Agbogidi Victor Chukwumalieze, the Obi of Onitcha-Ugbo lauded Odita for his initiative.

He called on other sons and daughters of Anioma to support the project and contribute to the development of children.

“I pray that you will continue to live and live to empower children and inspire them for a better  tomorrow.

“I want to appeal to other sons and daughters of Anioma to key into this project.

“What this young man is doing today should serve as an inspiration to others to give back to the society.

“It is my prayer that God will continue to bless him and give him the enablement to sustain this laudable project,” the royal father said.

Responding, one of the beneficiary, Miss Precious Akabude expressed the appreciation of her family for the school materials.

Akabude, 10, and a primary six pupils of Isioji Primary School, Onitcha-Ugbo said the gift items would help reduce the financial burden of school resumption on her family.

“I want to thank Mr. Sunday Odita for what he has done for me and other pupils here today.

“Ordinarily, many parents would find it difficult to buy all these materials for their children as school resumes.

“Personally, I am very grateful because these gift items will help reduce the financial burden on my parents,” Akabude said.