By Habibu Harisu
Sokoto – The Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN) on Monday distributed 580 sets of school uniforms to 290 pupils of Sabongarin-Alu primary school in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The company, trading under brand name of Sokoto Cement, built the school, which is close to the company, for the community as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Presenting the items, the company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Alhaji Sada Suleiman, said the gesture was part of the company’s support package aimed at complementing the efforts of Sokoto State Government to develop education.
Sada said the company was also assisting the state through portable water supply, electrification, rural roads, health-care, women and youth empowerment.
He said the company had also awarded scholarships to 50 indigent students in tertiary institutions, adding that more support programmes to be executed by the company were on progress.
“The uniforms and educational materials are mainly for primary schools, basic and secondary education for enrolment sustenance,” Sada said.
He said 150 girls and 140 boys had benefitted from the gesture, noting that each pupil would get two sets of uniform.
The Manager promised that the gesture would continue and pledged to also partner with the state’s Ministry of Education to identify areas of need for more assistance.
The Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal on Corporate and Social Responsibility, Alhaji Faruk Suwidi, described the support as strategic because of the importance of instructional materials to students.
Suwidi said the gesture was the first of its kind from any corporate body in the state, noting that it would significantly reduce the burden on parents.
- He therefore, urged parents and guardians to reciprocate the gesture by ensuring that their children and wards attended school regularly.
He further appealed to other corporate organizations and wealthy individuals to take a cue from the company.
Alhaji Bello Buba and Alhaji Abubakar Ahmadu, Chairman and District Head of Wamakko LGA respectively, expressed the community’s appreciation and thanked the company for impacting so much on the community.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlight of the event was songs presentation by pupils. (NAN)