Monarch applauds Airtel caring on children ...praise its Eye-screening exercise in adopted schools

Emeka Ibemere

His Royal Highness, Oba Haruna Abass, Bejeroku of Oke-Agbo, Ogun State was happy throughout the duration of the Airtel eye-screening exercise in adopted schools when the train team screeched at a halt at the St. John’s Anglican Primary School, Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State.

On ground, were hundreds of pupils, teachers, and people from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and community leaders who turned out en-masse to participate and witness in the exercise, which saw over 567 pupils, 32 teachers and about 25 people from the community examined and screened by the team of medical experts. Before moving to Ogun State, the Airtel train had moved to adopted schools in Umumara, Imo State and Ediba in Cross Rivers State.

Speaking shortly before flagging off the eye-screening exercise, His Royal Highness, Oba Haruna Abass, Bejeroku of Oke-Agbo, who notably has  been working for the improvement of the community since he was installed stated that, Airtel Nigeria has further contributed to the development of the locality through its social interventions at the school and the community in which it is situated.

The monarch who was represented by one of his chiefs, Otunba Augustine Olufemi Asegbe, said. “We thank the management and staff of Airtel for their love for children. As we know, children of today are leaders of tomorrow. Airtel acknowledges this fact and that is why it has decided to perform this eye screening exercise for the pupils of this school. I thank Airtel Nigeria for what you have done and I wish the company greater heights.”

Also speaking further, the Education Secretary, Ijebu-North Local Government, Alhaja Mistura Balogun commended Airtel Nigeria for touching the lives of pupils, teachers and pupils in the local government, saying other companies should emulate the telco in touching lives. “Airtel has been part of the family for improving the lot of teachers and families in the local government. The truth is that some children come from humble background and so could not afford the regular health check-up”, she added.

“There are some diseases that affect the eyes; if care is not taken it could lead to blindness at a very early stage. And some parents are ignorant of this. Some might even feel it resulted from spiritual attack. So, this initiative is coming at a right time to prevent, cure and rescue the children from eye diseases. I pray that God continues to strengthen Airtel.”

In the same vein, the Vice Chairman of Ijebu-North Local Government, Hon. Adenuga Adebayo gave kudos to Airtel Nigeria, saying the commitment of the telco to the people shows the value Airtel attaches to education, health, young children and adults alike.

“Lots of children will benefit from this eye-screening exercise. More so, the cost burden of the eye test has been lifted off the shoulders of the parents.  Airtel has prioritised the health of our children and indirectly our future,” Hon. Adebayo also recalled that he was present when Airtel commissioned the blocks of classroom and borehole for the school. The eye-screening exercise also received remarkable commendations from both the Parents –Teachers Association (PTA), teachers, pupils and community members.

The screening eye test started on the Tuesday 1^st of April to Wednesday 2^nd April, 2014.

It would be recalled that in the last three weeks, Airtel Nigeria had successfully conducted the free eye screening exercises in two other adopted schools namely: Community Primary School, Amumara in Imo State and Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross River State. The exercise helped to detect and treat visual impairment that otherwise could lead to blindness.

Airtel explains that the gesture is in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility objectives of the leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria.

The new initiative apart from other policies was to help discover on time some diseases that could affect the eyes, if proper earlier checks weren’t taken to prevent blindness. The   free Eye-Screening exercise for pupils and teachers of its adopted Primary School in Ogun State, Nigeria was another giant stride in its Adopt-a-School CSR initiatives.

Recently, Airtel Nigeria hosts 600 African teenagers in Lagos with the nifty idea of the ARS African Championship. That corporate social responsibility brought African youths, especially on the game of soccer together with the purpose of strengthening ties, build friendship and create unity among the youths of Africa.

 The Championship held in Lagos State Nigeria served its usefulness in building potentials as well as serving as a platform for promoting African unity, and greater tomorrow for the future of African countries’ national teams in football.

The players were drawn from Burkina Faso, Congo Brazzaville, Congo DRC, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Kenya, Tchad, Tanzania,  Rwanda, and Uganda.

The youngsters ignored the boundaries created by language and geography as they displayed their skills and completely broke down barriers of borders and language.

In his opening speech at the Agege Township Stadium, Lagos, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, disclosed that ARS has provided thousands of youngsters across Africa, the opportunity to exhibit their talents and crystallize the hopes of becoming future players for their respective countries.

He particularly emphasised that the championship promotes African unity with the gathering of youths across Africa, coming together to take part in the competition.

In all, the championship became a reference point in youths and sports development across the African continent and it was also been predicted that it would become the benchmark for future youth tournaments in Africa. About 75,000 boys and girls registered to participate in this year’s Airtel Rising Stars national tournament in Nigeria alone. Entries were similarly huge across the other 16 countries.