Pomp as Goldcrest Family Centre showers school children with gifts

Recently, a Lagos-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) Goldcrest Family Centre held its annual Children Day Educational Programme.

Held in Ketu, Lagos, the programme was the 20th edition in its series. More than 20 primary schools from Ketu and its environs participated in the annual programme.

Some of the schools were Arowosegbe Primary School, Irepodun Primary School,

Alapere Primary School, Orisigun, Primary School, Baptist Primary School, Agboyi Primary School, Maidan Primary School, Ajelogo Primary School, Anglican Primary School and Pastor Adegboyega Primary Schools, among others.

Apart from the usual educational activities, cultural display and sporting activities, there was also an essay presentation on the topic “Patriotism in Nation building.”

The pupils spoke on the need for patriotism in nation-building, while the teachers also spoke about how integrity can develop education.

Speaking on the annual event, President of the Goldcrest Family Centre, Reverend Agatha Chukwura said the reason for the student educational programme was to support education and improve the process of learning by the pupils.

She added that the topic was chosen to instil the worthy ideals of patriotism in the minds of the pupils, saying the children of today are actually the leaders of tomorrow.

She reiterated the need for the state government to support the schools in addressing the deficit in the education sector, insisting that the best the Lagos State government could do is to support ideas that would help in improving the standard of education in the state.

She added that what Goldcrest is doing in the last two decades is to give the enduring legacy of good educational background and standard to the pupils as that is the only way that the future of the pupils can be guaranteed.

“We have been engaging the primary schools in this educational programme for the past two decades and I am happy that the feedback we get annually has been encouraging.

“We provide them the opportunity to learn and expose them to important knowledge outside the four walls of their schools.

“They learn through the essay presentation, they learn through the cultural programmes, including dancing and knowing more about the other states’ culture. They also learn more through arts exhibition and we are able to identify their talents in sciences and arts respectively.

“This is a project that can help the pupils’ confidence and create better opportunities for them. So there is need for collaboration. Goldcrest Family Centre cannot do it alone because it is all about providing an enabling environment for proper learning.”

In his remarks, the Education Secretary, Agboyi-Ketu, LCDA, Babatunde Soneye, spoke on the need to assist the NGO in promoting the core values of education and knowledge.

He said the pupils’ are well prepared and exposed in an environment where there is competition. He applauded the Goldcrest Family Centre for putting up an annual programme that centres on improving the knowledge-base of the primary school pupils and he noted that the Lagos state government is doing everything that is possible to assist reputable non-governmental organisations like the Goldcrest Family Centre across the state.

“The need to salvage the education sector is not the business of the state government alone. Other institutions can also get involved in assisting the Lagos State government as the Goldcrest Family Centre is doing for the past two decades. Therefore, I wish the leadership of this organisation well as I pray God to reward their efforts.

Mrs. Mary Ayelabowo, a teacher at Maidan Primary School, spoke on the need to expose the pupils to good learning. She added that the students’ educational programme remains one of the best platforms to identify talents and expose the pupils to good learning.

“The Pupils gathered here today have learned one or two things. First, they have been exposed to knowledge outside their schools through essay competitions and presentations. And they have learned so many things about the various tribes in the country and their various cultures. All these would improve their knowledge,” she said.

The quality of their knowledge, talents and understanding came to the fore with the arts exhibition as well as sports and cultural displays, as the pupils used the best opportunity to show their talents in singing, dancing, drawing and building strong ties among themselves.

At the end of the programme, the best students in each of the events were presented with various awards. All the pupils and teachers also went home with various items and gifts.