Suleiman Anyalewechi, Aba
Governments at all levels have been enjoined to close monitor the activities and operations of interventionist agencies charged with the responsibilities of improving the lots of children in the country, especially their educational needs ,so as to ensure that all interventionist policies and funds achieve their ultimate end as well as reach their targeted beneficiaries.
The call was made by the chief executive officer, CEO, of Oasis Humanitarian Foundation Mrs Gift Ogbonna during a city-wide feeding programme organized for the less privileged children to mark this year’s Children’s Day in Aba last week.
She noted that experience has shown that more often than not, most laudable policies designed by the authorities to improve the lots of children do not achieve their set objectives, due to lack of commitment, capacity and sincerity of purpose by interventionist agencies.
According to her, unless there is close supervision and monitoring of supervising agencies, government’s capacity to provide unfettered access to quality and quantitative education will continue to be severely hampered.
“I expect the government for instance, to interrogate how funds allocated for Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, programmes are being used. There is the possibility that the government is properly funding the programme, but in some states, the impacts are not being felt by the targeted beneficiaries -the children. They should follow and know how all interventionist funds are used “Mrs Ogbonna stated.
She noted that the city-wide feeding programme, with the theme “Feed A Child, Feed the Future” has opened her eyes to the magnitude of the plights of most children, especially those from the less privileged homes. She therefore called on all public spirited and well-meaning people to key into the task of saving the future by way of assisting the less privileged children in the society.
NewsCritic online reports that the feeding programme benefited about 300 children drawn from the three densely populated local councils of Aba South, Aba North and Osisioma Ngwa LGAs. The children were fetted with serveral gifts ranging from raw food items, exercise books and cash.
“My joy today is that we attended to those that really need attention going by the areas we covered. We interacted with truely the less privileged. Government and corporate bodies should rise to the occasion. Some privileged people waste food in their homes, while those in need are out there. Iam on this mission because I know what lack is all about”, Mrs Ogbonna said.
