Today the 24th Day of January 2023 is a day set aside to mark the United Nation International Day of Education with the theme; To invest in people and prioritize education.
Indeed this year theme from United Nation was drawn through the humanitarian activities of the Founder and General Overseer, Omega Power Ministries (OPM), Apostle Dr Chibuzor Gift Chinyere,FNBR.
Over the years, Apostle Chinyere have heavily invested in people and ensure free access to education especially for the poor and less privileged children in Nigeria.
Through this candid well thought out vision, the man of God has contributed immensely in reducing the high rate of out of school children in Nigeria.
Globally, children are entitled to free and quality basic education, yet the number of out-of-school children in the world is alarming and on the rise. The rise is particularly evident in sub-Saharan Africa with Nigeria as the epicenter.
According to the World Bank, Nigeria, in 2020, had more than 11 million out-of-school children between the ages of 6 and 15. This figure represents 1 in 12 of all out-of-school children globally and 22 per cent of all children in the age group in Nigeria.
This report have long been altered by Apostle Chinyere’s robust vision of providing quality free education to the Nigerian people. For instance, Apostle Chinyere through his ministry, has built 22 state of the art free schools in Nigeria. This school is free to its entirety. From school uniforms, bags, shoes, books and other writing materials are provided free of charge.
Bulk of the number of out of school children are children from poor and less privileged family and this was clearly understood by the man of vision, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere who have invested heavily on education need of the less privileged in Nigeria.
Government at all level should learn or borrow this vision from the man of God or support his vision to build more free schools in Nigeria.
It is quiet clear that those who cannot afford the resources to attend higher institutions in Nigeria potent danger as the rate of non graduates is alarming. This have become a source of concern to Apostle Chinyere.
Over the years, the man of God has offered international undergraduate scholarships to not fewer than 4000 Nigerians who are currently studying various degree courses in Turkey, Poland, Cyprus, Canada, United States of America and currently Benin Republic.
It will interest the world to know that even in foreign university at ESM Benin university, Apostle Chinyere built a standard canteen to enable the beneficiaries of his scholarship scheme have a place to feed from apart from providing them with a befitting accommodation. He has graciously taken free school feeding to the international level, first of its kind in the world.
The man of God is not ready or interested in reeling out figures of out of school children but devised measures to reduce their number.
As the United Nation mark International Day of Education 2023, it will be advisable to support Apostle Chinyere whose efforts have made a verifiable impact in the lives of the poor and less privileged who constitute a larger number of out of school children in Nigeria
Kenneth N. Nwachi writes from Abuja
