Kogi First Lady Extends Back-to-School Support to 27 Schools

The Wife of the Kogi State Governor, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, has extended her back-to-school empowerment programme to 27 schools across six local government areas of the state.

The initiative, implemented through the Ohunene Empowerment Initiative(OEI), founded by the First Lady, provided more than 3,750 learning essentials to pupils and students between September 28 and October 2.

The intervention covered Adavi, Bassa, Dekina, Kabba, Koton-Karfe and Ogori/Magongo Local Government Areas, giving many children essential items needed for the new academic session.

The materials included school bags, books, calculators, mathematical sets, pencil cases, lunch bags, shoes and water bottles.

For many beneficiaries, the support offered more than basic school supplies. It also brought excitement as children received new bags, tried on their shoes and displayed their learning materials.

The Coordinator of the Ohunene Empowerment Initiative, Mrs Mary Agamalafiya, represented the First Lady during the outreach and led the distribution across the six local government areas.

The programme reached children in Nursery classes, Primary 2 to 4 and Junior Secondary School 1 to 3. Pupils in other classes also benefited at some of the schools visited.

Kabba recorded the highest number of beneficiary schools with six, followed by Adavi and Dekina with five each. Bassa and Ogori/Magongo had four schools each, while Koton-Karfe had three.

The outreach also brought the initiative into direct contact with teachers and school communities. Their involvement provided an opportunity to assess the immediate needs of pupils and students while observing the effect of the support.

The beneficiary schools included St. Augustine’s College, St. Monica’s College, LEA Oke-Offin Primary School, K/B LGEA School Edumo-Bunu, UBE Secondary School Edumo-Bunu and Comprehensive High School Oke-Offin Bunu in Kabba.

In Adavi, the programme covered LGEA Standard Nursery/Primary School Ikara-Woro Adavi, LGEA Standard College Iresuha-Inoziomi, LGEA Catholic School Ikara-Woro, UBE Secondary School Iresuha Adavi and LGEA Primary School Iruvomi Karaworo.

Beneficiary schools in Ogori/Magongo included St. Peter Primary School, LGEA RCM School, Government Science Secondary School and UBE/JSS CMS Magongo.

The outreach also covered LGEA Central Primary School, Anglican Primary School, Islamiya Primary School, Government Secondary School and LGEA Model Science Secondary School in Dekina.

In Bassa, beneficiaries came from LGEA Central Primary School Oguma, Bassa Model Secondary School Oguma, Bassa Model Nursery and Primary School Oguma and LGEA Islamiya Primary School Oguma.

The three schools reached in Koton-Karfe were Police Children School, Government Science Secondary School and Community Girls Secondary School.

The Media Office of the Wife of the Governor said the intervention reflects the First Lady’s commitment to supporting vulnerable children and promoting their educational development.

According to the office, access to basic learning materials can help remove some of the everyday difficulties that discourage children from participating fully in school activities.

The initiative therefore seeks not only to equip beneficiaries for the new academic session but also to encourage them to approach their education with greater confidence.

Through the Ohunene Empowerment Initiative, the First Lady continues to support programmes focused on the welfare, education and development of children and young people across Kogi State.