Wale Jagun with Olaleye Taiwo & Ayoola Oladipupo
-Records 82 enrolments for 2nd edition Back – To -School Initiative
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Imota Branch, brought its Back to School Empowerment (BSE) 2.0 programme to a close on Friday, October 24, 2025, with an engaging town hall meeting with parents of beneficiaries of the NYCN initiative.
The stakeholders’ meeting held at the CDC Community Hall, Imota, was organised in partnership with the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Imota Command and headmistresses of local primary schools.
During the 3-day programme, 2000 exercise books, as well as school bags, uniforms, rubber shoes, pens, pencils, and socks were distributed across schools in Imota Local Council Development Area (LCDA). The youth group also enrolled a total of 82 pupils into various schools during the exercise.
Comrade Oriyomi Adebogun, Coordinator, NYCN Imota, who explained that the purpose of the gathering was to strengthen communication between parents, schools, and the NYCN, also emphasised that the synergy is to ensure that beneficiaries of the BSE initiative remain consistent in their education.
He recounted what led to the intervention programme of the group in ensuring that children who are out of schools are enrolled.
“We went round Imota, moving from street to street, asking the children why they were not in school and the answers we got were heartbreaking. Some said their mother had died. Some said they didn’t have shoes. To some, it was because they lack clothes to wear, while others said that they didn’t even have bags or books.
“We kept on speaking to them, one by one, and by the time we finished counting, we had discovered 433 children, yes, 433 roaming the streets, not going to school. It was then that we said to ourselves, this could not continue. These are our children. They deserve better.
“That is why, when we enroll these children into school, we don’t just leave them there. No, we don’t. We usually go back to check on them. We check how they are performing. We check their attendance. We look at how they were doing before, and how they are doing now,” Comrade Adebogun said.
He also stated that the performances of the children have been amazing in schools, while expressing the NYCN’s disappointments in some parents who are still preventing their child from attending classes.
“And our dear parents, let me tell you we have seen amazing progress. Some of those children who used to struggle before are now doing so well. One child who used to take 13th position before now came 6th. Another who was in 5th moved up. One even got 2nd position. Isn’t that wonderful? That shows that when these children are given a chance, they can truly shine.
“But what is really surprising and baffling to us is that some parents, after all these efforts, still do not allow their children to come to school. Some of them will send their child on Monday, and by Tuesday or Wednesday, the child is nowhere to be found. By the end of the week, they’ve only attended one day!
“So, I want to ask, what then is the purpose of providing these things for the children, if the parents themselves are not cooperating? We have given them uniforms, bags, shoes, books and other things that they needed. The only thing we ask from you, parents, is to please feed these children and send them to school.
“Every child is meant to go to school five days a week. Education is the right of every child not a privilege, not a favour a right,” he said emphatically.
He said that the group is partnering with LNSC to ensure that children in Imota are in school and further emphasised his appeal to parents to support in giving education to every child.
CS Adejo Adekunle Babatunde, Commanding Officer of LNSC Imota, while commending the NYCN for the initiative declared his command’s support towards its sustenance. He emphasised the importance of parental supervision and discipline in the training of children.
He also cautioned parents against any form of abuse, warning that offenders would be arrested. He urged parents to report troubling behavior or disobedience to the LNSC for proper guidance rather than ignoring early signs of misconduct.
In her address, Mrs. Ajarat Adeyewa, Headmistress of Local Government Primary School, Imota, appealed to parents to take their duties seriously, noting that family planning and child care are key to building a better future.
Headmistress of Methodist Primary School, Imota, Mrs. Janeth Adekola, lauded NYCN for the educational support being provided for pupils in Imota LCDA.
She urged parents to assist their children/wards in protecting the learning materials.
Among stakeholders in attendance were Mrs. Azeezat Animashaun, Administrative Officer, LNSC; Mr Segun Olowoopeyo, Mr Gbemileke Oduyale, Treasurer, NYCN Imota; and Ibrahim Olusesi, General Secretary, NYCN Imota, among others.
