Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has built a primary school for a the village of Yola in North east nigeria.
On the 23rd of October, the InnerCity Mission for Children, under the auspices of the Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International, commissioned a standard nursery and primary school in Demsa community, Yola in Adamawa state, North-East Nigeria. This laudable gesture was extended to provide quality free education and educational supplies to indigent children who are least likely to access education.
Statistics show that one in every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria. Only 61% of children aged 6 to 11 regularly attend primary school, and only 35.6% of children aged 36 to 59 months receive early childhood education. In Northern Nigeria, the picture is even bleaker: 2.8 million children are in need of education-in-emergencies support in three conflict-affected states (Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa).
The man of God, Reverend (Dr.) Chris Oyakhilome, once said, “instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.” Driven by these words, and in response to the critical situation in Northern Nigeria, the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI), commissioned a tuition-free school for indigent children in Yola, Adamawa state. The commissioning of the school was witnessed by the federal, state and local authorities, esteemed Pastors and partners of the Loveworld Nation, religious leaders and other dignitaries.
The line-up of events for the occasion included special dance presentations by the children and indigenes of the community, school kit distribution and a tour of the school facility. The guests also got to see the InnerCity Mission’s large-scale food kitchen from where the school feeding program in the state would be executed. The feeding program will provide every pupil with at least one nutritious meal each school day.
The newly commissioned school in Yola, is one of the seven centers of the InnerCity Mission Schools situated in Africa and Asia. The expected outcome of the educational program is for all children to access and complete their basic primary education within a safe learning environment, while gaining the skills and knowledge required for lifelong learning.