Senator Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo State and founder of the Rochas Foundation, has called for establishing an Educational System supported by volunteers to tackle deficiencies in the academic sector. During an event hosted by the Rochas Foundation in Abuja to celebrate the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child, Okorocha emphasised the critical demand for volunteer efforts to offer free academic support to youth, especially those in primary and secondary school. His advocacy is based on data indicating that more than 13 million children nationwide are not in school, and 70 percent of them are female.
He emphasised the importance of learning in promoting human development and empowering individuals, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. He explained that while the government is primarily responsible for academics, it cannot address this challenge alone due to competing national priorities such as health, agriculture, and infrastructure. He urged prominent individuals and organisations to support initiatives offering academic opportunities to vulnerable children. He believes housewives, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) participants, and various volunteers should be organised to share their knowledge and educate and guide the younger generation.
Rochas Foundation offered academic opportunities to students across Africa.
Over the past 25 years, the Rochas Foundation has offered academic opportunities to about 40,000 children nationally and in 22 other African nations. Okorocha recognised that, even with these initiatives, the foundation’s influence remains limited to the demand. He expressed a desire for increased participation from individuals and organisations to broaden the scope of similar programs. He also noted that school must not be considered a luxury but an essential right for every child, calling for a shared commitment to ensure its availability.
Further, emphasising the need for institutional reforms, Okorocha advocated for using local languages in schools, arguing that teaching children’s mother tongues could enhance their comprehension. He criticised the overreliance on English as a marker of intelligence, noting that many who speak English fluently may still lack a fundamental understanding of critical subjects. He recommended that mastery of a person’s mother tongue should be emphasised as much as English skills, especially in the country’s southeastern region.
Students were encouraged to seize the foundation’s opportunity.
Also present at the event was former Sierra Leonean president Ernest Bai Koroma, who praised Okorocha for his commitment to advancing academics throughout Africa. Koroma stressed the significance of school in promoting solidarity and Empowerment across the continent, noting the vital contributions of the Rochas Foundation in uniting students from various African nations. He urged the present students to take advantage of the foundation’s chance to connect, share insights, and become advocates for positive transformation in Africa. Additionally, he prompted them to consider the difficulties girls encountered and pledged to leverage their academics to improve their communities and the continent.
On her part, Uchechi Rochas, who leads the Rochas Foundation, reiterated the organisation’s dedication to empowering women, stating that honouring the International Day of the Girl Child is vital to their mission. She emphasised how crucial it is to inform young women about their capabilities and resilience, encouraging them to overcome societal stereotypes that depict females as weak and needing protection. Referencing data, Uchechi pointed out that women play a crucial role in their communities and economies, often reinvesting as much as 90 percent of their income into their families and society. She urged the girls to enter every space confidently, fully aware of their capabilities and economic importance.
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However, Okorocha advocates volunteer work and promotes academics in local languages. His foundation’s initiatives highlight a commitment to creating a more inclusive and accessible academic system in the region. He emphasised that reducing the number of children not in school is achievable through collaborative efforts, particularly from volunteers and charitable contributors. The event emphasised how schools can change lives and transform with an optimistic outlook for the future of Africa’s youth, especially girls, who can redefine their communities.