Foundation empowers over 1,500 Ogun students with digital skills

The Louis Awode Foundation, in collaboration with The Archers, has empowered over 1,500 students across four schools in Ogun State through its maiden educational outreach tagged ‘Clothe-A-Child Initiative.’

…distributes educational materials

The foundation, which is committed to improving the quality of life in underserved communities, organised the outreach between May 19 and May 20.

Louis Awode, founder of the Louis Awode Foundation,while explaining the motivation behind the initiative, disclosed that he grew up in an underserved community and experienced firsthand the many challenges that came with not having adequate educational materials.

“As someone who grew up in similar circumstances and saw firsthand how much difference access and encouragement can make, the foundation’s goal is to give vulnerable children the exposure and support they need to reach their potential.

“The locations of the outreach were selected because we identified a gap in those communities. For context, many students there have limited access to educational resources and digital literacy,” he said.

In addition, he said, “This is part of the foundation’s commitment to education and empowerment in underserved communities, with plans to expand across Nigeria.”

Awode further noted that the foundation hopes to impact over 20,000 children through education, technology training, and mentorship, and partner with more organisations and volunteers in the future.

Michael Olabode, the head of brand experience for The Archers, said the organisation assisted the foundation with volunteers and partners whose values align with those of the foundation.

“We were involved in the coordination and logistics arrangement, volunteer management, media coordination, programme scheduling, and communication. We also supported the foundation by coordinating the learning materials for the students.

“We also helped facilitate arrangements and coordination for Jekacode’s hands-on tech training sessions, ensuring students gained both educational support and exposure to digital learning opportunities,” Olabode said.

Speaking on what birthed the collaboration between his organisation and the Louis Awode Foundation, Olabode said the goals and visions of both organisations are similar.

“When we encountered the vision of the Louis Awode Foundation, we realised there was a natural alignment. While the foundation focuses on supporting children from nursery to secondary school level,

“The Archers focuses more on students within tertiary institutions and fresh graduates. The mission is essentially the same, empowering young people through different stages of education and personal development,” he emphasised.

Besides, he said that for organisation, the collaboration represents continuity in supporting the growth, confidence, and future of Nigerian students and youths across every educational level.

The foundation visited one government primary school and one public secondary school in Ijebu Ode, as well as another government primary and secondary school in Ogbere, in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

In Ijebu Ode, the foundation visited a primary school with over 70 pupils and a secondary school with over 200 students on the first day of the outreach.

The outreach in Ogbere recorded a larger turnout on the second day, with over 300 students in each of the schools visited.

The beneficiaries received school bags, notebooks, and other learning materials.

The beneficiaries also participated in digital skills training sessions, and certificates were awarded to students who completed the programme.

A teacher in one of the schools, who introduced himself as Salam, explained that students in the school face a lack of educational materials, adding that most of the parents of the pupils are farmers who cannot afford educational materials for their children. This, according to the teacher, affects the students’ education.

A primary six pupil of St Mary’s Catholic School in Ogbere, one of the schools visited, said she is an orphan who lives with relatives. According to the pupil, her guardians have limited means to cater to her basic needs.

“I don’t have access to textbooks because of financial constraints,” she said.

The pupil appreciated the Louis Awode Foundation for the outreach, adding that she would love to see more of it in the future.

“I feel blessed. I appreciate the foundation and hope they do more of this to support more children like me,” she said.