BakareBridge Foundation seeks better tomorrow for under-privileged kids in rural communities

The BakareBridge Foundation, a charity organization with a focus on general well-being and educational development of children, especially girl-child in low-income underserved communities, at the weekend held its yearly edition of its annual ‘Bringing Class to the Class’ programme, called on Nigerians, governments and private institutions to do more for underprivileged children in rural areas to bridge the gap in development.

The outreach, now in its ninth edition, featured three mentors of the Foundation discussing the importance of education with children and parents of the underserved community of Orita-Aperin and its environs in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, with the theme – The Future Starts Now.

The three mentors were Ms Oluwatoyin Aiyedun, the Group Managing Director of Fusion Group and winner of the Eko100 Women award from Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State; Prince Adegboyega Jelil Sanni, a retired Comptroller of the Nigerian Customs Service; and Mrs Olufunmike Adepoju, a retired secondary school principal.

According to the founder of BakareBridge, Mr Nurudeen Bakare, the foundation is focused on intervening in the often neglected underserved communities because they are prone and known for high crime rates, violence, poverty, maternal and infant mortality, while positive role models, books and other educational resources are in short supply.

He said: “The foundation’s projects are centred around challenges of people in poor neighbourhoods. At BakareBridge Foundation, we understand that a significant portion of the Nigerian population lives in poverty ravaged underserved low-income communities, and many families living in such condition are far from reaching their dreams; so the foundation strives at all times to provide for them the much-needed resources and motivation to reach their full potentials.”

In their speeches, the mentors recognised the negative impacts of poverty and illiteracy on the quality of life in such communities, but extensively discussed about how education and good parenting can bring the best out of children from poor communities.

The foundation promised to continue its annual free six-month comprehensive classes for students of the poor communities preparing for NECO/WAEC as well as UTME. The top students from the programme are awarded higher institution scholarships and enjoy mentorship from the foundation’s mentors throughout their study.