By Our Reporter
The Leader of the 7th Bakassi Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Grace Bassey, has launched an educational support initiative for children in need in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The initiative, which was carried out at Ikot Efiom, the council headquarters, provided selected beneficiaries with school books, bags, writing materials, mathematical sets and cash assistance ahead of the resumption of schools.
Bassey said the programme was introduced as part of her commitment to investing in young people and supporting children who require assistance to pursue their education.
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She said the beneficiaries were selected strictly on the basis of need, with the objective of ensuring that the intervention reached children who required support the most.
“I love to invest in young people. That’s why I called to gift you some educational materials because I know that school will very soon be resuming,” Bassey told the beneficiaries.
The legislative leader said the intervention was intended to help remove the challenge of inadequate basic educational materials for children preparing to return to school.
She stressed that every child should have the opportunity to learn, grow and pursue their aspirations without being held back by a lack of basic learning materials.
Bassey also used the occasion to counsel the beneficiaries on responsible behaviour, urging them to be mindful of their conduct, character and choice of friends.
She told the children that some of them could become leaders in the future, but warned that their behaviour and character would play an important role in determining the kind of adults they would become.
“You are the future leader, so you have to be mindful of the things that you do today. Some of us are here today; today I am the leader of the Legislature. Tomorrow it might be you,” she said.
She further advised the children not to allow their feelings or peer groups to negatively influence their decisions, stressing that responsible conduct was essential to becoming productive members of society.
According to her, the quality of the company children keep and the choices they make could affect their future productivity and ability to contribute positively to their communities.
One of the beneficiaries, Fortune Ukeme Jack, a Class 3A pupil of Rainbow High School, Bakassi, expressed appreciation to Bassey for the intervention.
“Ma, thank you for what you have done. May God continue to bless you,” Jack said.
Another beneficiary, Eyo Okpo Ene, an SS2 student, also thanked Bassey for the educational materials.
The initiative comes ahead of school resumption and is aimed at providing basic educational support to children identified as being in need within the community.
