CAN, Lagos Island East LCDA Chapter, Distributes Free School Uniforms to Students of Various Schools
Apostle Olalekan Daniel Odejimi, Coordinator of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos Island East LCDA Chapter, has charged Christians and the Church to demonstrate love in practical terms beyond the church walls, take Christianity to the unreached, and impact lives in society so that people can feel the impact of Christ.
He made the call during the presentation of free school uniforms, complete with ties and caps, to indigent pupils of various public primary schools within the LCDA. The benefiting schools included Holy Cross Primary School, Oil Mill; St. Peter’s Primary School, Faaji; St. Stephen’s Primary School, Adeniji-Adele; Jamaitul Islamiyyah Primary School, Ebute-Elefun; and Fazl-Omar Primary School, Ebute-Elefun.
Apostle Odejimi said the experience of visiting the schools with other executives to personally present the uniforms had exposed the association to other areas requiring intervention.
“We came for the school uniform distribution, but we discovered other needs that require attention. By the grace of God, we will work on them,” he said.
He added: “As a Christian body, we came together to practically show love beyond the four walls of the Church, take Christianity out of the church to the unreached in our communities, and touch lives so they can feel the impact of Christ in us.”
Speaking on the inspiration behind the initiative, Apostle Odejimi said: “When I assumed office as Chairman of CAN, Lagos Island East LCDA, I sought the face of God concerning His plan and purpose for our tenure. This project is one of the visions God laid in my heart, which I shared with the executives. We collectively agreed and worked towards its actualization. By God’s grace, this is just one of many initiatives God has committed into our hands.”
In her remarks, Pastor Mrs. Deborah Ibidun-Kerufai, Special Adviser on Religious Matters to the Chairman of Lagos Island East LCDA, described the gesture as a laudable initiative by the body of Christ.
“Jesus fed over 5,000 people. It is therefore not out of place if CAN is extending love to people. It is an extension of what Jesus did. I can imagine the smiles and joy on the faces of the children receiving new school uniforms,” she said.
She called on well-meaning Nigerians to be an extension of God’s hand by pooling resources together to impact lives in the name of Jesus.
Pastor Mrs. Ibidun-Kerufai also commended the Lagos State Government for its efforts in improving the standard of education and developing school facilities across the state.
“With the current environmental and infrastructural development of public schools in Lagos State, they are no longer just public schools. They are better than most private schools in terms of educational standards and delivery,” she stated. She encouraged parents to take advantage of the improved public school system rather than incurring debt or selling properties to enroll their children in private schools.
In separate remarks, the headteachers of the beneficiary schools expressed gratitude for the donation. They include Mrs. Olubi Oluwakemi Adeola, Headmistress of Holy Cross Primary School; Mrs. Mary Eniola Ologunja, Headmistress of Fazl-Omar Primary School, Ebute-Elefun; and Mrs. Sanusi Sadia Moyosore, Headmistress of Tinubu Methodist Primary School.
They appreciated the gesture and called on other religious organizations, philanthropists, and well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the initiative and support indigent pupils. According to them, putting smiles on the faces of pupils is not only about donating money, but also about boosting their morale and motivating them to learn.
The beneficiaries, many of whose old uniforms were tattered and worn out, expressed joy and gratitude with praises on the Christian body for its love and kindness in providing them with new uniforms.
Also in attendance for the free school uniforms presentations was Mr Saheed, a representative of the HOD, Education, Lagos Island East LCDA and some members of the Executive, CAN, Lagos Island East LCDA.
