50 students from five secondary schools in Idah,Kogi state who got one year scholarship from the Makoji Kelvin Ibrahim (MKI) Foundation after the Bridge Nigeria Summer Bootcamp which ended in Idah on Saturday.
By Victoria Onehi
50 students from five secondary schools in Idah,Kogi state have been given one year scholarship while over 300 students were trained in various skills by the Makoji Kelvin Ibrahim (MKI)Foundation.
The Founder of the NGO,Mr Makoji Kelvin Ibrahim disclosed this during the Bridge Nigeria Summer bootcamp organised by the Foundation which held from the 19th to 24th August in Idah,Kogi state.
Ibrahim said the reason the foundation was created was to empower young people to be educated and to the guide them to right mentors in any field of their choice.
” At the Bridge Nigeria Summer Boot Camp, we are trying to get these young people, mostly teenagers from one point to the other. There is a lack of mentors in our society and a lot of young people are getting motivation from social media or their peers and there is no one to look up to in terms of how to model their lives.So we are bridging that gap by guiding them to mentors and people they can learn skills from.
“We trained them in Computer Literacy, Financial Literacy, Software Development and then we also taught them not to rely on white-collar jobs.So,we partnered with local businesses here in Idah,like mechanics,make-up artists, barbers, people who do small chops, bakers and fashion designers to teach them those skills.
“We partnered with five key schools this year which are St Peters College, St Kizito Seminary secondary school, Polytechnic Secondary School, Government Technical College and the Holy Rosary Secondary school all in Idah..At the end of the bootcamp,we have given certificate to over 300 participants and the MKI Foundation has also given full year scholarship the 50 students from this camp.” He said.
In one of the training sessions, Deputy State Commander on Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the NIgeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA) Abdullahi Zuwaira enlightened the teenagers about the dangers of drug abuse.
Executive Director Virtuous Reusable Pads, Tabitha Abimiku said they partnered with the MKI Foundation for the 2024 Bridge Summer Boot Camp, to empower young people to overcome challenges and envision a brighter future.
She said,”This initiative is close to our hearts at Virtuous Reusable Pads, as it perfectly aligns with our mission to uplift and empower young girls.
“Our participation in this boot camp was beyond just words but about action. We partnered to provide 114 young school girls with reusable pads, ensuring they don’t have to miss school due to a lack of menstrual products.
“Additionally, we held an educational session on menstrual health and hygiene, equipping these girls with the knowledge they need to take care of themselves confidently.Together, we’re making a difference in their lives, helping them reach their full potential.”Abimiku said.
One of the students, Simon Emmanuel, shared his experience at the camp.”I learned that there is no shortcut to success, but there is a fast way to succeed, which is through education. I also learned that acquiring skills in addition to formal education can help me make money in this economy.”
Another participant,Francis Chinemelum from St Kizito Seminary School Idah thanked the MKI Foundation for giving him the opportunity and spoke of what he learnt at the bootcamp.” At this camp,I learnt how to barb hair, fashion designing and other hand skills and the need to have mentors.” He said.
