By Ekaette Ibuot
As part of its corporate social responsibility and a bid to solve some of the challenges posed by the present covid 19 pandemic, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) in collaboration with Queen Agnes Foundation commissioned a sick bay for Junior Secondary School, JSS Kurudu, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The sick bay equipped with modern equipment was commissioned at the weekend to serve as mini clinic for the students and teachers in the school ahead of full resumption of schools in the FCT.
Speaking during the occasion, Mrs. Thelma Akinduro, the Executive Director of Queen Agnes Foundation, said she approach Shippers’ Council, that provided the necessary support for the actualization of the project.
Akinduro said she was driven by passion for humanity embark on the project, adding that it was a way to encourage the students.
“I was motivated by my passion for humanity and love for children. I go to schools to talk to students, sensitize them and encourage them. And when I came to this school that was when the journey began. About three hundred girls here are house helps. They go through a lot. Some of them are even being taken advantage of by the people they stay with, they use them, the molest them, they rape them. So when these children were telling me what they go through, I was really touched. Personally, I spent about N2 million on the project” she said.
Alh. Bashir Abubakar, Deputy Director, Academics and Support Services, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), who represented the Board while appreciating Queen Agnes Foundation’ good gesture expressed joy, assuring that the facility will be put to good use.
He assured that efforts would be made to post a health officer that will manage the bay effectively for the benefit of the school.
“We appreciate the Foundation for the provision of the sick bay for our children. And we welcome other NGOs that wish to partner with us so that we will ensure that our children are getting what they are supposed to get. I pray that God will bless the Foundation and provide more resources to them so they can do more for humanity. I will do my best to facilitate the posting of somebody who can man this sick bay for our children” he said.
In her remarks, the Principal, Junior Secondary School, kurudu, Mrs Isah Talatu expressed gratitude to Shippers’ Council and Queen Agnes Foundation.
She said the school is still challenged with so many needs and called on other well meaning Nigerians and organizations to come to its aid.
According to the Principal, parts of the school’s perimeter fence have fallen exposing the school to dangers of burglars and other criminal elements.
She enumerated the needs of the school to include class rooms, library and the perimeter fence which she said had been destroyed by heavy rain.
