The day has come. We have been planning and coordinating. Working behind the scenes to kick off our Education project with just the right event and gift.

There are many parents of the children in Igosun, Kwara State Nigeria who pray and hope for a miracle to be able to send their children to school. Although there are many public schools, that doesn’t mean there is no cost associated with the children’s attendance. There are school fees that must be paid, uniforms to be acquired, shoes to find and the list goes on. Because of the financial hardships some of these families face on a daily basis, sending one child to school is a challenge much less all their children. In some cases, one child will attend a year of school while another sits out that school year solely because of the cost. Can you imagine deciding each year which child in your household will be educated that year? Tough decisions have to made in some households at the beginning of each school year based completely on the family finances.

With all the expense to get a child to school, the supplies needed once the child gets there becomes burdensome financially. Children are sitting in classes sometimes with no pens or exercise books to take notes. The parents have spent all they have to get their child to the classroom with no money left for supplies.

As our committee members met and discussed what the parents in Igosun, Kwara State Nigeria are facing, we brainstormed, discussed, planned and determined we had a really great place to start in making an impact in the lives of the children and families with regard to their education. After careful consideration, we decided to go to press with a very special exercise book that would be distributed to 1,063 children in Igosun. We would not only provide them with 1 exercise book but with 3-6 depending on their age and class needs. This means Ebunlomo Olagunju Foundation went to press and printed 4,936 exercise books. We were so excited when we received the proof. It made our hearts leap with joy as we knew the impact this would have on the village.

On November 30th, Ebunlomo Olagunju Foundation invited dignitaries from the local government, chiefs from the village and other special guests to join us as we invited representatives from all seven schools to attend the the kick-off event and reveal of the gift that would go out to all the children from these 7 schools. What a joyous occasion! Nothing really prepares you for the moment that so many lives are impacted in an instant. This is the Lord’s doing and it’s marvelous in our eyes!

The children were buzzing, the teachers were full of energy, the headmasters and principals were touched. An entire school went to Ruth Ebunlomo Olagunju, our honoree and the reason behind the foundation, to thank her for the gift that was bestowed on them. What a joyous day!

We are looking forward to launching our scholarship program next year. In closing, we are deeply grateful to our supporters and especially the Implementation Committee volunteers that carry out the strategic vision of the foundation.

“And the King will answer and say to them, assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Matthew 25:40