Kunle Adelabu
Over 400 children were, on Sunday, December 20, 2020, treated to varieties of exciting games, foods, music and educational engagements by the budding Pepc Foundation at its maiden Children Xmas party.
The colorful party was held within the Strong Tower Academy premises located along Oke Ota-Ona, Ikorodu, and featured different kinds of amusement and entertainment solely provided for the enjoyment of the children that attended the memorable event.
The events recorded 325 kids from Ikorodu environment, 85 from orphanage homes making 410 total attendees excluding parents, guardians and others.
The children had an unhindered access to unlimited fun as played at length with bouncing castles, had train ride, while popcorn and ice cream were freely served to them as they danced to various songs dished out by the Disc Jockey (DJ).
Aside from hundreds of families invited to the special party, three orphanage homes were also invited and they brought their wards to have fun at the event.
One of the highlights of the fun filled party was the visit by the young fun-seekers to the Santa Clause in his specially decorated cabin at the event ground to get their take-home packs.
America – based music act, Bolaji Akinsanya, also entertained the children with some of his beautiful tracks.
Barr. Luqman Akinsanya, the founder of the Pepc Foundation, a non – governmental organization that has been engaging in humanitarian, educational, sports and other developmental activities since it berthed in Nigeria last year, also had direct contacts with invited kids by asking them questions while about ten participants who answered the questions correctly went home with branded school backpacks.
Akinsanya, while addressing participants, expressed his profound appreciation to young participants for their presence and promised a bigger and better outing in 2021.
“We are happy to have each and everyone of you here today. On behalf of myself, my amiable team of wonderful volunteers, I say thank you for coming”, he said appreciatively.
“We say a big thank you to the orphanage homes that are here present”.
He also thanked parents and guardians that spared their time to bring their children and wards to the Xmas party
“We say a wonderful and sounding thank you to our wonderful parents, aunties and uncles for coming out and we are sure that you will be joining us this time next year for a bigger party.
“It has not been easy putting this together. We all know that nothing comes easy. We have been having sleepless nights putting this together for you to have wonderful and memorable party today.
“Today, I want you all to understand that it is not just about the bouncing castles here or the food that you are eating or the ice cream or popcorn or the train rides that we have provided for you to enjoy, but also you all have been invited here to be taught about the spirit of giving and sharing with others that do not have.
“We are here for a purpose which is for you to understand that it is important to give back to any community or environment that you find yourself.
“As you are growing up, you have to understand that this is not just about the gifts and the food that you are eating, but also to understand that giving is important in one’s life”, he said to the children.
Akinsanya , therefore, charged the children to cultivate the habits of sharing their extra pencil with those that cannot afford to have at all in their respective classes.
“Make sure that you share your extra pencil with your friend who does not have any in your classroom because it might be his turn next time and he will always remember. It might even be someone else that you do not even know from anywhere that will offer you help.
“Always make sure that you share and give back, no matter how little it is”, he said.
Participants who attended the party were made to register at the point of entry while they were subjected to temperature and other tests at another point in line with the COVID-19 protocols.
Pepc foundation, which was co – founded by Barr & Mrs Luqman Akinsanya both of whom are based in the United States of America (USA), has been engaging in many activities that have impacted on lkorodu community, since last year after it was launched at Olu – Odo in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division, Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria.
The foundation had on many occasions distributed adequate food items to hundreds of homes in Ikorodu during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
It had also engaged in school support programmes through distribution of educational materials and bags to many schools in Ikorodu and other parts of the state twice this year.
Pepc Foundation has also been supporting many young men and women quietly in achieving their dreams in education and other endeavours.
.
