A dispatch from Imo State/Embassy of the Republic of Liberia, Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Imo State, Nigeria – A second batch of five underprivileged Liberian school children has arrived at the Rochas Foundation College of Africa in Imo State, Southeastern Nigeria.
The Foundation provides free quality secondary school education to orphans and indigent children between the ages of 11 to 14, including those from war-torn and disaster ridden areas.
Accompanied by a chaperone from Liberia’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Edwina Buckett-Mulbah, the new batch of five Liberian students arrived midweek and immediately began classes for Academic Year 2018/2019, a dispatch from the Liberian Embassy in Nigeria says.
As the new arrivals began a new educational journey away from home, the Foundation supplied each of them a full package that included textbooks, exercise books, sets of uniforms, and clothing, as is customary.
According to the dispatch, the new batch now brings to ten the total number of Liberian school children at the Rochas Foundation College of Africa.
The dispatch recalls that earlier last year, five of their compatriots formed part of the Foundation’s maiden group of students from other African countries who began Academic Year 2017-2018.
For this academic year’s new batch of Liberian students, the Liberian Gender Ministry, in collaboration with the Foundation, recruited Obediah Bondo, Esther Korpo Salee, Blessing Sabah Ballah, Rita T. Baryorga and Martha Banto.
Hawa M. Karsieh, Musu Massaquoi, Ida Swen, Abdoulai Farswarwuo and Mulbah S. Kokulo made up the first batch of Liberian students from the last academic year.
Upon arrival, the Dean of the Foundation, Mrs. Lata Sneh-Onyearugbulem formally welcomed and introduced the students from Liberia. According to the dispatch, the dean encouraged them to maximize the opportunity awarded them. She also emphasized on the need for the students to promote good moral at all times as outlined in the student’s handbook, and to prioritize their goal, which is to get education.
In response, the Liberian children’s chaperone, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, used the occasion to thank and appreciate the Founder of the Foundation, His Excellency Anayo Rochas Okorachas, and his team “for the brilliant opportunity given to these less privileged Liberian kids.”
Mrs. Buckett-Mulbah then explained the process that is used annually to select five less privileged Liberian students from some of Liberia’s less fortunate communities and orphanages for subsequent enrollment into the Rochas Foundation College of Africa.
Also making brief remarks on behalf of the Liberian students, student Hawa Karsiah of the First Batch said: “I am so excited to see my friends from Liberia. I am happy that they are now having equal opportunity to acquire education here in Imo State, Nigeria. On behalf of my friends and my country Liberia, I want to express my thanks and appreciation to the Founder and Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Anayo Rochas Okorachas, for providing us this opportunity. We remain grateful and promise to do our best to represent our country Liberia very well while here.”
In September of last year, the Rochas Foundation College of Africa began and extended its free educational programs to poor children from other African countries.
Established by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, each year the Foundation recruits five underprivileged school children from each of Africa’s 54 countries between the ages of 11-14. Additionally, Governor Okorocha also runs a chain of schools named the Rochas Foundation Colleges in 11 of Nigeria’s 36 states, concludes the dispatch signed by Nat Bayjay, Minister Counselor for Press & Public Affairs at the Liberian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria,
