Agha Ibiam
6 July 2009
Lagos — Some people or corporate organisations are not only in business for personal gains alone, but how they can use the proceeds from their businesses to better the lots of many people, especially the youths in their community.
At this year's Children's Day celebration, some organisations saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate their social corporate responsibility programmes, especially as it relates to children. Some form of events were organised which were basically designed to target the educational needs of some pupils.
Tasty Fried Chicken (TFC), a popular eatery outfit was one of such organisations that took interest in some schools in Lagos State and planned heavily for the academic development of some children. About 45 schools participated in the programme which was organised to test the pupils on spelling abilities.
This year's quiz competition was titled, "TFC Spelling Bee 2009." One out of five pupils' that represented a school participated in the quiz competition. In total, about 43 children sat at the podium and were tested specifically on spellings. The event was held inside Victoria Onigbero hall, TFC Festac Town.
During the exercise, St. Jude Primary School, Victoria Island took the first shot as its representative was asked to spell the word 'acknowledgement'. Though the representative got it wrong at first trial, but was given another opportunity to spell the word. Pin-drop silence was required from the audience and the crowd was not allowed to hoot anybody when wrong answers were provided, but could applaud for correct answers.
Reacting to this year's event, a school teacher from Akanji Primary School Surulere, Mrs. Adefunke Falaie, who brought five pupils' said the quiz was highly interesting because the pupils were given opportunity to interact with other children and this invariably helps their academic performance.
"This is one of the best Children's Day ever celebrated. It is also an indication that children are widely celebrated in the country. Though some of our pupils' have gone for match past because we divided the pupils into groups," she said.
For Zanm Nworgu of St. Patrick Catholic Primary School, Lagos Island, he said he came with seven pupils to attend the competition. He described the event as a great one, but thanked the management of TFC for organising such a wonderful activity which would help the children develop their intelligent quotient.
He said TFC sent a letter of invitation to their school and that enabled them to participate. He hoped that the pupils would put up good performance in the quiz competition. "The children are happy because they are learning new things today," he said.
Little Miss Faith Ahmedu, 11, of St. Patrick Catholic Primary School who is Basic 6 said she liked this year's Children's Day because of the activity planned by TFC. Though she did not plan for the competition, but said she would have been happy if she had participated.
However, at the gathering, TFC corporate affairs manager, Mrs. Bunmi Odesanya, said three winners were expected to emerge after the quiz competition. The first winner, she said, is expected to go home with a laptop, N20, 000, TFC meal docket and a gold medal.
The second winner smiles home with a similar present, with N10, 000, silver medal and meal docket, while the third winner goes with BMS Bicycle, N7, 000, bronze medal and meal docket.
On the other hand, the winning schools are not left out. The first winning school receives a multi-media system, gold trophy and a Webster dictionary. The second school receives silver medal, dictionary and trophy.
Likewise the third school with bronze, trophy and dictionary. But in all, participants during the quiz receives certificate of participation and goodies bag.
The manager said whatever programme they have at that time of the year is only meant for Lagos market, and that with time, they will spread it to other states. According to her, 140 letters were distributed to different schools, and only little above 45 schools indicated interest to attend the programme.
Apart from the organisation celebrating with the children as part of its corporate social responsibility, nevertheless, she said the motive of the event is also to help children advance in their academics and develop their talents, hence being regarded as development initiative.
While Odesanya said schools needed to do a lot more to teach the children well, the Executive Director of TFC, Mr. Bunmi Adedayo said he was impressed with the children as it goes to show how well education has developed in the country.
"The event will add value to our education system and it will also encourage organisations like us to invest in the winners and the future of the children and this in turn will widen their horizon. Though we also have a Foundation for scholarships," he said.
But the only criteria required from the children Adedayo said was that TFC is looking for those that have lots of potentials they can develop so that they can be more intelligent and articulate to lead the country well in the near future.
"At TFC, we isolate ourselves in doing new things and our service delivery is excellent and visionary. We have quality control management for consistency and our slogan is do everything right," the executive director said.
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