In the first phase of its 'Creek 2 School Legacy Project 2024' the EBF has given out 3000 notebooks, 100 mathematical sets, 100 branded school bags, and 50 packs of writing materials that include biros pencils, erasers, and sharpeners, and more importantly, leaving pupils and students that are schooling in the riverine areas with the message of hope.

The inscription "Impacting Lives One Person At A Time & Running With The Message Of Hope For All", inked at the back of one of the branded sweat shirts of the Ernest Bebenimibo Foundation, says it all for the Delta-State based nongovernmental organisation that is established with special focus on alleviating the plights of learning for pupils and students in the riverine areas.

Founded by Dcn. Amb. Ernest Bebenimibo (JP), the EBF has yet again brought some relief to parents and their wards through its 'Creek 2 School Legacy Project 2024' initiative with the NGO giving out free learning materials to over 1,000 pupils and students of Isaba Kingdom in the Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, on Tuesday, September 24.

The initiative of the EBF, which has become more of a necessity for parents that are faced with the current hardship of the Nigerian economy, saw the Founder and his wife, Mrs. Loveth Bebenimibo leading other volunteers to Akori Primary School, Isoun Primary School, and Isaba Grammar School, all in Isaba Kingdom.

Among the volunteers that participated in the exercise are Dcn Chapel Oghenero, Mrs Joann Onoruerome, Mrs Blessing Arome, Mrs Oghenerukevwe Oguname, Mr Samson Ubebe, Mrs Tina Odudu, Mrs Joan, Mrs Blessing Emmanuel, Mr Dennis Sokoto, Mrs Comfort Ubebe, and Sis Douye Odiowei.

As attested to by a staff in one of the schools visited by the EBF, she alluded that the intervention might seem minute, but it's a big deal for parents who are struggling to providing learning aids for their wards. She recalled few days ago how a parent had pleaded to the school authorities to provide writing materials for her ward with a promise to pay later, despite the long holidays that should afford parents to prepare for resumption.

But asides the donation of learning materials to enhance performance, the EBF Founder in his engagement with pupils and students in the schools visited imprinted in their minds the message of hope as he reminded them of a former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) from Bayelsa State, who went to school with no sandals, but with determination and hard work later became the number one citizen in the country.

Dcn. Ernest, who himself is a product of the studying in a riverine setting, urged both pupils and students to not be discouraged to put in their best in the face of learning and other academic challenges, but to always look up to the many examples of those before them, who, today, like GEJ are blazing society with their honourable achievements.

The pupils and students were no doubt filled with excitement as they chorused their appreciation of 'Thank You' to the EBF Founder and volunteers for knowing taking pains to come to their rescue.

However, for Dcn. Bebenimibo, who sees his action as part of being a solution to a long-standing problem of poor learning faced by pupils and students in the creeks, and having experienced same as a pupil, desire other stakeholders in the Niger Delta to join forces with the EBF to bring much succour to countless others as the NGO continues its 'Creek 2 School Legacy Project 2024' campaign.

He said, “These pupils and students are the future of tomorrow. The creek child deserves quality education like their counterparts in the urban areas. As such agencies of the federal, state government and other stakeholders need to join this campaign for it to have a far-reaching impacts on these pupils and students in the long term.”

As the EBF gears up for the phase two of the 'Creek 2 School Legacy Project 2024' initiative, one thing is certain, which is that there is hope for the creek child. The act of the EBF, which is bound to go a long way in positively affecting the lives of pupils and students, could be likened to a little spark that can rekindle the passion for greatness in the creek child.

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