A United States of America based nonprofit organigation, Better Life Initiative, Upswing, in partnership with Revival Prayer Outreach, has launched a free adult education programme in Gbatse, Oshongo local government area of Benue state.
The programme, which aims to provide education from primary to junior secondary levels, was Thursday inaugurated with 183 students.
“The people are hungry for education,” said Ms. Maureen Okechukwu, country director of Upswing for Better Life Initiative in her remarks.
“I chose this community due to their high level of illiteracy, their willingness to learn, and their leader’s acceptance of the program and cooperation with our representative, Apostle Wisdom,” Okechukwu said.
Inaugurating the programme held at Gnatse Community Primary School, Ushongo, the Zakir of Gbatse Kingdom, Zika Pila Jeremiah the 3rd, encouraged the community to take advantage of the programme, stating the importance of education in overcoming challenges.
“An educated society can overcome many challenges, including poverty, as education provides one with the opportunity to think out of the box to solve every challenge,” he said.
Earlier in his address, Apostle Wisdom Ezenyi of Revival Prayer Outreach and the proprietor of the school, commended the community for embracing the program and assured that it would remain free as long as it runs.
“What started as a spiritual journey developed tentacles into an education program. We discovered the strong need for education in Gbatse and decided to run a full free adult education, from primary 1 to SS3, as it grows,” he said.