The Cradle of Christ the Helper Foundation, a non-governmental charity organization based at Urohi, Esan West Local Government Area, Edo State, has been distributing free notebooks to primary school pupils for the new academic session which commenced on September 11, 2023.
In the event which held on September 22, at Urohi Primary School compound, Chief Gabriel Atu Ofele, the Ologbosele of Urohi Kingdom who is grand patron of the foundation, addressed students and staff on the aims and functions of the foundation.
The event was later moved to the palace of His Royal Highness Dominic Uwuigbowen 1 at Eguare, Urohi, to ensure all the children across the communities were served with the books and enthusiastic children and their parents came out in large numbers to get books.
Remarkably, this is the fifth anniversary of the book donation exercise started by the Cradle of Christ the Helper Foundation, which has taken the sole responsibility of providing new exercise books for children across communities in Urohi.
The distribution was handled by the foundation secretary, Miss. Favour Atu in the company with community volunteers.
The Cradle of Christ the Helper Foundation President Mr. Chris Atu an indigene of Urohi community, says this is his way of giving back to the community and that he will continue to contribute in his little way to the growth and development of the community.
He said in his days as a pupil in Urohi Primary School, going back to school for a new session was always challenging as he did not always have the means to get the full complement of books and other items they needed for school.
Most parents across the communities were often challenged to raise the money required to buy books, school uniforms and other materials for their children from their meagre earnings as subsistence farmers or petty traders.
This, he said, informed his drive to take up the responsibility of providing free books for the children.
The foundation has also been involved in the distribution of school uniforms and other school materials to some of the most indigent pupils in the community. Atu promised to take this further by providing a Sectional Prize on Vacational Day to the best deserving pupils yearly.
However, the Cradle of Christ the Helper Foundation is taking this opportunity to appeal to both the State and Local Governments to allow the foundation better access to contribute better to the pupils of the communities.
This is because in some cases they have been prevented from carrying out the book distribution exercise in some school compounds.
Atu recalled that in his days as a pupil, he was privileged to receive many prizes, is replicating the gesture and giving back to the community.
On behalf of the President of the foundation, Favour Atu expressed her gratitude to the school’s management, the pupils and His Royal Majesty the Onogie of Urohi, Uwuigbowen Dominic 1.
She further thanked the elders, youths and the entire Urohi indigenes while soliciting for more support from the community to assist in creating a befitting future for these young stars.
