CEACSI hosts 80 orphans, seeks govt support

For 80 orphaned and indigent pupils drawn from various schools around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, it was a day to remember. On June 29, 2024, a non-profit organisation, Child Education and Child Support Initiative (CEACSI), hosted the children under their scholarship and care to a get-together they will not easily forget.

At the event, the founder of the organization, Mrs. Maryam Bala Shehu, called on government to support indigent orphans, particularly in the area of education.

Speaking on the occasion, which was at the LEA Primary School, Utako, Abuja, Bala Shehu disclosed that CEACSI has been in existence for 15 years, adding that since that time they have routinely selected orphaned and indigent children whom they paid their school charges and provided kits, school uniforms, sandals, bags and stationery.

According to Bala Shehu, CEACSI’s first child would be graduating from university in 2025 while others were also doing well in school.  She, however, lamented that the initiative has faced challenges of losing some of the children to early marriage or the relocation of their guardians out of  their reach.

Bala Shehu said: “I believe education is a leveller as it allows non-privileged children to compete in the same arena as privileged ones. It is a pathway out of poverty. Education not only makes children better citizens, it also draws out creativity and innovative tendencies in them.”

Speaking of the activities of CEACSI, she revealed that it has volunteers, mainly university students, who  dedicate their time during holidays to teach and coach in some identified secondary schools, especially in STEM.

She said: “The children we cater for are our children too and are also children of the world.” With that declaration, she led the children and guests in a special performance of the song: “We are the world.”

The special adviser to the minister of education, Dr. Ruquayyat Gurin, expressed her joy at CEACSI’s  activities. She said: “What CEACSI is doing is supportive of government’s effort in education. The minister, Professor Tahir Mamman, is determined to fulfil President Bola Tinubu’s vision that no child is left behind.”

She assured CEACSI that the ministry of education was always willing to throw its weight behind credible organisations supporting government to achieve her goals.

A trustee of CEACSI, Adanma Odefa, also spoke at the gathering. She explained that the charity had started as Maryam Bala Shehu’s quiet effort to help vulnerable children during her active service years but it has obviously grown into an organisation that must be known and supported by all.

She commended the founder for keeping it afloat all these years. “But it is now time to seek help and expand the scope so that more indigents can benefit from the lofty objectives of the initiative. We have so many children that deserve our support and they cannot get it if we don’t have financial support. This project has grown beyond us. These children belong to all of us. We must all pitch in to keep them in school and out of trouble,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, the representative of the Commonwealth Business Women Africa, Hajia Hassana Bala, reminisced over her own childhood.

She said: “I went to a government-owned school as a child. I shared a class with children of expatriates and children of wealthy parents. It is regrettable that the standard of education has fallen so much that I am unable to send my own children to government schools. This saddens me a lot as I got a good foundation from the public schools in my time.”

She commended CEACSI and called upon well-meaning Nigerians and organizations to rally round them to benefit more qualified children.

Mrs. Blessing Abu, another guest, noted that what CEACSI has done for the children and the way they made them feel by supporting them to stay in school and attending a fun-filled get together of this sort will stay with them  forever.

Other dignitaries who attended the event advised the children to be steadfast in their studies and ensure that they continue to work hard and stay in school.

The 80 children, drawn from LEA Primary School Utako; LEA Primary School Kado; LEA Primary School Sabo Kado; LEA Primary School Daki Biyu; LEA Primary School Wuse Zone 1, had a lot of fun as they danced, won cash prizes in a quiz competition and entertained guests with varied performances.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of T-shirts, school bags, uniforms, stationery, pairs of sandals and socks to the children.