The National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as Pyrates Confraternity, in partnership with a non-governmental organisation, Treasured Points of Light, has distributed stationery and school bags to pupils and students in the Wasinmi community, Ewekoro Local Council of Ogun State.
The initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s out-of-school children programme, which focuses on reforming the school curriculum and enrolling 500,000 school dropouts.
Children from 11 villages, including Elekuro, Lemo, Akakun, Onibotuje, and Kelewu, benefited from a range of items, including notebooks, socks, mathematical sets, pencils, sharpeners, erasers, crayons, sandals, flasks, spoons, cutlery cases, and bottled water.
Speaking at the event themed ‘Back to School 2025’ with the slogan ‘Join Hands, Raise Hope,’ Capoon of Ash Montana Deck, Ganiyu Omitogun, said distributing school bags, sandals, and other stationery materials was part of the association’s street projects.
Omitogun lamented what he described as a 60 per cent drop in education due to declining school enrolment, with some young people believing that “education is a scam.”
“The National Association of Seadogs has a project called NAS Street Project, aimed at giving back to kids to encourage them to return to school. We understand that the education system in the country has deteriorated. During Awolowo’s time, about 90 per cent were attending school; it has dropped to 60 per cent.
“We want to give back to the kids because we realise that people in this community are poor, and providing little bags and writing materials for their kids will motivate them to go back to school. Some children even carry nylon bags to school, so providing these materials will reduce the number of out-of-school children,” he said.
The President of Treasured Points of Light, Oluwadamilola Onebamhoin, said the NGO organises the Back to School Programme annually to support children in rural areas and challenge the belief that education is a scam.
She explained that the initial target of 326 beneficiaries was later raised to 400. She also noted the difficulties faced in visiting 11 villages to persuade parents and guardians to allow their children to benefit from the initiative.
Onebamhoin urged the government at all levels to address the challenge of out-of-school children, particularly in rural communities. She added that her organisation also pays school fees for some children whose parents struggle at the start of new academic sessions.
Immediate Past Area Mate of Pyrates Confraternity, Ash Montana Deck, Yemi Akintunde, said the intervention was meant to help children who dropped out due to broken homes or forced labour to return and pursue their dreams.
Akintunde further expressed concern about rising drug abuse among youths and highlighted the need to educate children on its dangers to prevent crime and insecurity, including terrorism. One of the beneficiaries, Oladoyin Shoyoye, a student of Hope Model School, expressed gratitude to the organisers.
“I am grateful to the organisers for this initiative. I will use the materials wisely and responsibly,” she said.
