Pupils and students in Dawaki community, Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, have received scholarships, school supplies and examination fee support from an illustrious daughter of the community, Madam Deborah Jan Hornecker, as part of efforts to improve access to education and healthcare.

The intervention also included the donation of medical drugs worth millions of naira, essential medical supplies and test kits to the Dawaki Primary Healthcare Centre, alongside ₦600,000 to support the expansion of the facility.

The initiative, which combines educational empowerment with healthcare support, is aimed at easing the burden on disadvantaged families and improving the wellbeing of residents.

Speaking at the launch of the Back-to-School Empowerment Initiative, the District Head of Dawaki, His Royal Highness, Nde Julius Dimbak Gombwir, commended Hornecker for her commitment to the education of children and the health needs of the community.

He urged other privileged sons and daughters of Dawaki, both at home and abroad, to emulate her gesture by investing in the development of their hometown and improving the living conditions of the Pwel people.

The traditional ruler also encouraged beneficiary students to make good use of the educational materials provided, while urging out-of-school children to return to the classroom.

Beneficiaries included pupils from LEA Kangpus, LEA Kapil and LEA Lungwa primary schools.

At Government Secondary School, Dawaki, the three best-performing students in each class, from Junior Secondary School One (JSS 1) to Senior Secondary School Three (SS 3), received scholarships covering their school fees for the current term.

The initiative also pledged to pay the Junior WAEC examination fees of the three best-performing students in JSS 3 and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) fees of the three best-performing students in SS 3.

In addition, all JSS 1 students received school bags, books, water bottles and writing materials to support their education.

The intervention is expected to provide relief for parents facing financial difficulties while encouraging academic excellence among students in the community.

In the healthcare sector, the donation of medical drugs, supplies, and test kits is expected to strengthen the capacity of the Dawaki Primary Healthcare Centre to deliver essential services to residents.

The additional ₦600,000 contribution towards expanding the facility is also intended to support efforts to improve healthcare delivery in the community.

The Chairman of the Pwel Development Association, Dr Samuel Bagas, praised the intervention, describing it as a significant contribution to the wellbeing of the community.

Speaking at the event, Hornecker, coordinator of the Back-to-School Empowerment Initiative, said the programme was designed to assist children whose parents could not afford basic educational materials and school uniforms.

She called on well-to-do members of the community to extend support to less privileged residents, stressing that government alone could not meet every societal need.
Hornecker also commended the Federal Government’s efforts in the education sector despite prevailing economic challenges.

Parents, teachers, school principals and officials of the primary healthcare centre expressed appreciation for the intervention, urging other sons and daughters of Dawaki to contribute to the development of their community.

Hornecker thanked the community for its warm reception and prayers, pledging to extend similar empowerment programmes to other communities across Plateau State and Nigeria.