by By Elijah Ugani
A non-governmental and humanitarian organization, Children of Rural Africa (CORAfrica), has today 1st December, 2022 donated a bus to St Peter’s Primary School Adagom for use by refugees and host community children.
Speaking during the presentation, the Founder/Chief Strategist of CORAfrica, Rev Fr Dr Peter Obele Abue noted that “the rationale behind the purchase of this bus is the long distance trekked by our pupils and our desire to provide the needed support to aid effective and conducive learning environment for them.
“As part of our educational model and to provide support in addition to compliment the efforts of UNHCR, in providing the required education, we had rented this structure and commenced the basic training of these children last year, and we currently have a population of 500 pupils, comprising of 464 refugees and 36 host community children”
Speaking further, Fr Obele maintained that “In addition to payment of staff stipends, we also provide snacks periodically for our pupils as a way of encouraging and stabilizing the children to enable them pay attention to the lessons taught.
“In response to the rapid and increasing growing population beyond our expectation, and the need to ensure standard in providing for the educational needs of the pupils, CORAfrica has acquired 50 plots of land in Adagom 3, less than 100 meters away from our temporary site. Work has begun with over 30 trips of sand, 15 trips of gravel and 600 bags of cement for the construction of an ultra-modern 8 classroom block in the new site. God willing, by January 2023 a more conducive learning environment will be available for the pupils.
“As an organization that is poised to emancipate the plight of rural African Children, we are determined to support the laudable initiative by UNHCR. We are committed to promoting inclusion and equitable learning opportunities for all, to improve access to education for refugees children in line with the global compact for refugees on education, as we anticipate further collaborations with UNHCR”.
Fr Obele used the opportunity to commend UNHCR Head of Ogoja UNHCR Sub Office, for honoring their invitation to witness the historic presentation of the school bus and requested for an audience with the Head of Ogoja Sub Office to enable him share their plans and programmes with him, to ensure that such programmes align with UNHCR mandate.
Chief Stephen Mankong who spoke on behalf of Adagom community, stated that “For us in the community, we are glad to be part of this occasion. Historically, since the coming of refugees to Adagom, this is the first major private donation of a person for the use of both the PoCs and the host community people”
Chief Mankong called on UNHCR to consider a partnership with CORAfrica as he said “It is my desire that UNHCR partner with CORAfrica in changing the educational misfortune of these refugees and host community people”
On his part, the Director General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Princewill Ayim, represented by the Programme Manager, Mr Hillary Agida commended Fr Peter Obele Abue for his passion for the vulnerable. He recalled that Fr Obele had founded the orphanage in Mbube where a lot of orphans have graduated into very meaningful persons in the society.
He called on UNHCR to find an appropriate place for CORAfrica so that they can do even better for the refugees intervention.
Mr Andy Ubong of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, averred that “we are here to say thank you CORAfrica for the assistance given to the government of Nigeria to assist the refugees. We are ready to collaborate with you any time”
Responding, the UNHCR Head of Ogoja Sub Office, Mr Tesfaye Bekele, who was represented by Mr Jonathan Derko, stated that “UNHCR in Ogoja have heard a lot about CORAfrica. The Country Representative has a very soft spot for children. She was here last month for the commisioning of the health centres at Adagom 1and Ukende.
Bekele averred that investment in children is investing in the future, and used the opportunity to appreciate the good work of CORAfrica.
Speaking further, he noted that “UNHCR looks forward to strengthening partnership with CORAfrica. “The more we see development like this, the more enthused we are to strengthen partnership” he added.
The event featured presentation of keys and particulars of the bus to the Head Teacher of the school, as well as a presentation by the pupils of the school and host community youths.
