Uchechukwu Nnaike
9 November 2009
Lagos — Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, has called on stakeholders in the education sector to contribute towards the girl child education.
Okogie, who doubles as Proprietor of Catholic mission schools in the state, made the call while briefing newsmen on plans to hold a N500 million fund raising and foundation laying ceremony of a hostel accommodation and dining hall at Holy Child College, Ikoyi.
He said the college, which is an all-girl school, operated a boarding system since its inception in 1945, but was abolished when the school was taken over by the military government in 1972.
Okogie , who was represented by Monsignor John Aniagwu, said some classrooms were converted to hostels and dining hall to re-introduce boarding system to the college three years after the return of schools in 2001, due to the request by concerned parents, adding that the current boarding facilities were not conducive to the students.
While emphasising the importance of boarding system to the education of the girl-child, he said the project when completed, would also lessen the burden of students who spend a lot of time to get to school daily and would attract students from other states.
He said the event, with theme, 'Build for Tomorrow's Leaders', which would hold at the college premises on Saturday, November 14, would attract the likes of President Umaru Yar'Adua, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, minister and commissioner of education, old students, as dignitaries.
Administrator of the college, Rev. Sr. Sophia Onuora, said the Nigerian community perceives a child-friendly school as one that has a good boarding house, sufficient classroom space, equipment, teaching and learning materials, safe water and uninterrupted power supply to students, particularly the girl-child.
"Societies that invest in providing their children with good quality education, it has been found later reap the benefits of major strides in development", she said.
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