The Ogun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Idiroko Border, has stressed the need for parents of border communities to prioritise the educational progression of their children to curb smuggling activities.
The command’s area controller (CAC), Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu gave the charge while speaking during the presentation of pairs of uniforms and other educational supports materials to 100 indigent pupils identified from five public primary schools in Idiroko axis of Ipokia local government area of Ogun State.
With particular reference to smuggling activities which appeared to be a substituted means of livelihood for the out-of-school children of the border communities, Shuaibu said parents of the host communities would be doing the country proud, if the educational needs that will culminate in the overall well-being of their children are adequately provided for right from the elementary stage.
Ogun Customs had through a collaborative relationship with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Ipokia local government, identified the indigent pupils, who daily go to classrooms wearing tattered uniforms and resolved to rehabilitate them under the NGO’s pet project called “Cloth a Child Initiative.”
But acting under its expanded Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the Customs in Idiroko Border however, decided to provide each of the identified indigent pupils with a pair of uniform writing materials that included books and stationery as well as chalks and white board markers for some selected public primary schools.
CAC Shuaibu, who was represented by the Customs’ deputy comptroller (CDC), Administration, Charles Ogunesan, urged parents to reciprocate the service’s gesture by taking their children’s educational progression seriously and ensure that they keenly look after their well-being.
Describing children as great blessings from God which must not be taken for granted, Shuaibu also commended the NGO for introducing the initiative.
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