Rochas Foundation kicks off 'READ' to get 10 million Nigerian kids into schools

Rochas Foundation kicks off 'READ' to get 10 million Nigerian kids into schools

- 10 million children are out of school in Nigeria primarily due to poverty

- Rochas Foundation says it is budgeting the sum of N1billion to get the kids off the streets and into schools

- The foundation is the brainchild of former Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha

The Rochas Foundation has kicked off a new initiative that seeks to get 10 million indigent kids off the street into schools.

This was disclosed on Wednesday, October 22, by the director-general of the foundation, Uchechi Rochas, while briefing journalists in Abuja.

According to her, the initiative called Rochas Education Aid and Development Initiative (READ) would kick off in 2020.

She also stated that N1billion have been budgeted to fund the project through other non-governmental organisations.

“Recent statistics show that there are about 10 million out of school children in Nigeria, an alarming situation that calls for urgent action to get illiteracy to its barest minimum.

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“This is why Rochas Foundation is leading efforts to get these children not only into school but with the needed aids and support,” Rochas said.

She said the foundation would be, spearheading concerted efforts with the support of the relevant stakeholders as well as interested civil society and non-governmental organisations to achieve its aim.

“We are using this medium to also call on the federal government to collaborate with state governments and our foundation with other stakeholders to get these kids; Nigeria’s potential future leaders to school,” she added.

She revealed that the Rochas Foundation also intends to give grants to 1,000 indigenous foundations that are making an evident impact in the education sector.

“At Rochas Foundation, we pledge to continue to do our best for the general uplift of the society especially the less privileged,” she stated.

Founded by Senator Rochas Okorocha, the Rochas Foundation has since inception over 21 years ago been committed to seeking the well being for the downtrodden and the less privileged in Nigeria and beyond.

More than 20,000 children from the poorest of the poor have benefitted from the free education scheme of the foundation.

Currently, 5737 students are in various schools operated by the foundation across the country.

Recently, the foundation welcomed new students from Uganda and Mozambique, raising to 16, the number of African countries benefiting from its free education initiative of the foundation.

The students joined their colleagues from 14 countries on the continent and according to Rochas Foundation, will have everything needed for a qualitative education at no cost.

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Source: Legit.ng

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