The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Region 52, Garden of Peace Parish, Surulere, Lagos has rewarded 364 secondary school students with cash prizes, school bags and academic awards, as part of efforts to promote education and keep children productively engaged during the long vacation.

The five-week holiday programme, which ran from August 3 to September 4, also offered free lessons to students from the church and the wider community, irrespective of their religious backgrounds.

Speaking at the end of the programme and presentation of awards, the Deputy Regional Pastor, RCCG Region 52, Pastor Femi Banire, said the initiative was designed to extend the church’s impact beyond its congregation.

Banire said the programme was part of the church’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, following previous interventions in environmental sanitation and medical outreach.

According to him, the holiday lessons were organised to keep children engaged academically instead of allowing them to remain idle throughout the long vacation.

“This one is far-reaching because people came from far and near to attend the five weeks free lesson, which is to make sure that children were not sitting at home doing nothing. And not only that, so that the church also can affect the families,” he said.

Banire noted that the programme was deliberately opened to students of different faiths, stressing that the church’s intervention was also aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence and community development.

He disclosed that more than N5 million was spent on the initiative, including teachers’ remuneration, school bags and cash prizes for outstanding students.

The cleric challenged wealthy Nigerians to use their resources to improve society, saying the true measure of wealth should be the impact individuals make in the lives of others.

The Chairman, CSR Department, Garden of Peace Parish, RCCG Region 52, Dr Joseph Otuagoma, said the intervention was established to demonstrate the church’s commitment to practical community service.

Otuagoma said the department had executed projects every quarter for the past two years, adding that education was selected for the latest programme because of its potential to shape the future of young people.

He said the initiative initially attracted about 150 students but eventually grew to 364 participants, including Christians, Muslims and other members of the community.

“About N900,000 was earmarked as cash awards for the best-performing students across various classes, while some church members also donated additional prizes.”

An SS3 student, Otitodilichukwu Ndubueze, who emerged overall best in the SS3 category, said the recognition had boosted his confidence and motivated him to plan more deliberately for his future.