The parish priest of St. Michael Catholic Church, Awgbu, Awka Diocese, Rev. Fr. Dr Innocent Nwafor, has explained why he decided to reward distinguished students of Santa Maria Nursery and Primary School, Egbeani-Ezeawulu Nibo, Anambra State, with live goats.
Rev. Father Nwafor said one of the reasons he gave them goats was that the poor among them can sell the goat for school fees and purchase books.
Last week, the management of Santa Maria Nursery and Primary School splashed gifts of goats on outstanding students of the school who distinguished themselves academically in their various classes.
Nwafor told reporters, “Actually, it is an initiative of an Austria-based NGO called ORA. The programme is ongoing in some Africa countries such as Ghana.
“An office of the NGO happened to be in the community where I worked for some time. Through a friend, it was extended to Nigeria.”
Asked about the choice of goats, he said, “It makes the children to be down to earth.
“In Awgbu, where the programme has been going on for three years now, some children are learning for the first time the various kinds of goat’s food.
“Second is for economic value. The children learn to take care of animal till it gives birth. The child sells it and uses the money to pay school fees, if in private school or buy novels among other things.
“So they learn to care for animals. In that way, they can better develop their caring sensibility to follow human beings.
“It will equally help them to develop a positive self-image. They look at the goat and feel that it is the fruit of my handiwork and make them work harder.”
