Educate A Child Part 2

The boys in this image are Sokonu Hakeem and Sokonu Jacob; they are siblings.

The older one is 8 and the younger one is 6. Hakeem says he wants to be a police officer while Jacob says he wants to be a doctor when he grows up. They say if they get the opportunity to become a police and a doctor respectively, they would support their parents financially; they want to help their community by restructuring every building and making sure that with the aid of the government and their own support, every part of their community is clean and properly sanitised.

I tried to push back tears as I watched as this girl was carried by other kids around her. She has polio and cannot walk. Imagine if her parents were educated enough to know the implications of not giving their child the polio vaccination, I don't think she'll be like this. Her story would have been different. She'd be able to walk, run and play with her friends. Education is important... be it #HealthEducation, #HygieneEducation, #AcademicEducation, #SocioPoliticalEducation, #SexEducation... it really goes a long way! #CatchThemYoung #EducateAChildToday  #EducationIsImportant #EducateAChildBuildANation 

Imagine if these kids were properly educated and led in the right path... a huge difference will be made. #Education is a strong weapon that can be used to fight and win the war called #poverty!!

 #TogetherWeCan
#DocumentaryInProgress #AyetoroOutreach #MakokoOutreach #EducateAChild #SponsorAChild #EducationIsKey #PovertyAlleviation #EducateAChildBuildANation #Documentary #DocumentaryPhotography

Flourish Like The Palm Tree

 

Ever noticed how tall the palm trees grow? The palm tree keeps growing regardless of seasons; be it dry, hot or cold, it just keeps growing. Refusing to allow circumstances surrounding it get in its way of reaching and attaining higher heights. It remains productive and bears fruits even in old age. This is how and what we should think of ourselves. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding us - the economy, the government or country we find ourselves in, we need to make that decision and take that bold step to stand out, grow and flourish like the palm tree. No one is too old to flourish and be productive. It's all in your mind. The power to be great, successful or influential lies in your mind and your mouth. It depends on how you use them (your mind & mouth). Think greatness and speak it forth! Also act on it! You'll definitely flourish just like the palm tree.
Psalm 92: 12-14 says:
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.

 

Educate A Child... Part 1

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – W.B. Yeats

Most of these kids at Makoko and Ayetoro, Lagos don't go to school. During the day, they help their mothers sell in the market or some just stay at home idle; tend to roam the streets, then eventually mix with the wrong company.

After helping their mothers at the market, they come home to watch over their younger siblings. Imagine a child being responsible for another child. 

Most girls in this neighborhood end up getting pregnant or married at a very early age (mostly in their teen years) instead of getting a good education.

Not only do they need academic education, they also need to be educated spiritually, psychologically, hygienically, socially, and emotionally. 

Have you ever thought of what you can do to aid in changing the world? Don't think so little of yourself because you are much more important than you think. It starts with YOU. You may think that what you can offer is so little but trust me, its worth much more than you think (some fees can be as low as 2 to 5 thousand naira only); I'm sure you spend more than that in 2 days, not to talk of a week or a month. Please let's make an effort to reach out to these kids; sponsor the education of a less privileged child today; especially a child you notice that hungers for education. You may not know this, but you're investing in the future of your nation, and also in the future of the child. 

As the famous quotes say:

"EDUCATE a girl, you educate a nation." - UNICEF

"EDUCATE a girl and she can change the world around her." - Sheryl WuDunn

"To EDUCATE girls is to reduce poverty." - Kofi Annan; Former UN Secretary General

Last Chair Hanging...

It all started from somewhere... in 1843... in a small town called Badagry; the famous first storey building which is now a historical landmark where people from far and near come to learn about the legendary stories of how Nigeria was built... of how a pace was set for us to follow and improve.

The pace has been set but has it been sustained? 

According to researched statistics, in Nigeria, 10.5 million children are said to be out of school, while some 35 million of the adults are said to be illiterate.
However, as at 2006, only 22% of the over 10.5 million eligible children between 12 and 14 years of age were enrolled in Junior Secondary Schools.

Many children and adolescents do not attend school because their parents can't afford the monetary cost of schooling. Some even have to start working to support their families.

Education is key. The more educated individuals we have in this country, the less problems we'll have.

Let's take a stand to reduce the rate of illiteracy in our country. It all starts from somewhere. You can start by sponsoring a child's education in your community; a child you know does not have the privilege you had. Surprisingly, some of these children's fees are not up to what you can spend in a week, not to talk of a month. It could be as low as 1 to 5 thousand naira. Trust me, you're sowing a seed. A seed that will bear fruits in due time... in the long run.

This is one of the chairs used by one of the first children in Nigeria, who were privileged to receive primary education. Someone saw the need for education in Nigeria and made it happen. Let's continue this trend, make it stronger and much better than it was then, and than it is now. 

It starts with you; like Mahatma Gandhi once said: "Be the change you want to see in this world."