Two NGOs, ABOC foundation and Silifat Abdullahi Sule (SAS) Hope foundation have commenced distribution of 10,000 exercise books to pupils of public primary schools in Nasarawa State.

Mr Ahmed Oduleye, founder of ABOC foundation inaugurated the distribution exercise at the Pilot Primary School in Lafia on Friday.

Oduleye represented by his Chief of Staff, Kefayat Ahmed said that 1,560 pupils were to benefit from the exercise across the 13 local government areas of the state.

He noted that education was key to prosperity hence the need for individuals and stakeholders including NGOs to invest in the sector and develop the children as the backbone of the nation.

The founder pointed out that the gesture was geared toward supporting government’s efforts in basic education given the plight of Nigerians in view of the current economic hardship.

“The government cannot do it alone hence the call on all well-to-do Nigerians to join us in the fight against the global economic crisis by investing in education and the people.

“We need to provide scholarships for students, supply them with learning materials, create jobs and entrepreneurship skills for the youths.

“The aim is to help the government achieve its target of a prosperous economy and a nation where peace and justice reign,” he said.

Oduleye said that the foundation in collaboration with SAS was committed to alleviating the plight of poor families in the state through the provision of learning materials and award of scholarships to the children.

In her remarks, Hajiya Silifat Sule, Wife of Nasarawa State Governor and founder of SAS Hope foundation, promised that the intervention in the basic education sector would be sustained.

The wife of the governor represented by Mr Bola Oduleye encouraged parents to prioritise the education of their wards, especially the girl-child, as that was the only lasting legacy they could bequeath to them.

Sule urged teachers to put in their best to impart the children with quality education that would make them better future leaders.

Also speaking, Ibrahim Angbolo, Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, commended the NGOs for the gesture, saying it was a commitment of private sector participation in the development of the education sector in the state.

Angbolo represented by Ibrahim Shehu, Deputy Director ICT of the ministry, said the Gov. Abdullahi Sule -led government was poised to develop the education sector and welcome other stakeholders to support the government in that direction.

Mr Mohammed Dan-Azumi, Executive Chairman, Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NASUBEB), thanked the NGOs for the support.

He said that the gesture was coming at the right time as it would complement what Gov. Sule was doing to uplift the standard of basic education in the state.

Represented by Hajiya Hashia Ahmed, the Executive Chairman revealed that the state government had paid its 2023 counterpart fund as part of its commitment to the basic education sector.

Dan-Azumi called on other stakeholders to emulate the NGOs by supporting education sector in the state.