Excitement As Medical Doctor Starts Campaign To Clothe Rural Students (Photos)

Dr. Cornelius Gofung (left)

With more challenges than one facing the Nigerian rural primary school students,  a young doctor has kickstarted a project that will see to the provision of school uniforms for rural public school students through a campaign tagged Clothe a School Child Project.

The initiative which was designed by Dr. Cornelius Gofung of the University of Jos Teaching Hospital has already had the first set of pupils numbering up to 50 from Amper Central Primary School in Kanke, Plateau State receiving free school uniforms. 

According to Dr. Gofung, he has identified that apart from the duo problems of poor education materials for students and the spiral falling of the system, one important thing that has been ignored is the clothing of these students.

“As a result of this lack of good uniforms, students get to grow without self-confidence and many may even drop out to avoid being ridiculed” he added. 

During the maiden edition of the project on Tuesday, school uniforms, sandals, and socks were presented to the students at the official launch of the project that had students and the school management in attendance. The district head of Amper who was bereaved also sent his appreciation for the project, noting that it meant a lot not just for the students and their parents, but also for the community. Parents of the students also showed up to show their appreciation for the kind gesture of all those involved in the project. 

Mrs Fayitmwa Danjuma

Mrs Fayitmwa Danjuma who spoke on behalf of the parents said they had come to express their joy and gratitude for being remembered in things like these.

Also speaking, headmaster of the school, Mr. Emmanuel Gompil while encouraging the students to take their education serious, described the campaign as something that is unique and very welcomed. 

The essence of the project according to Dr. Gofung is to encourage students to see the seriousness of education and at the same time to give students the joy of going to school, knowing no one would look down on them because they are not well dressed.

Through the Clothe a Student Project, people of like minds make donations towards making school uniforms for students of any rural primary school of their choice or to any other one.  As indicated by the initiators of the project, while it has now started in plateau state, machineries are being put in place to ensure that other parts of the country are soon covered as well. 

“Looking at the rate of poverty in the rural communities, this project wants to help students with regards to clothing. Like minded individuals and groups get to contribute various amounts of money (3,000 naira for a single student) to make complete sets of school uniform for the students. It is from these contributions that we are able to clothe these students. We believe that with the commitment of others, we would get many more students of public schools clothed in different communities,” Dr. Gofung.

Below are more photos showing some happy beneficiaries:

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