By Chris Onuoha 

The child-friendly nongovernmental organisation, Children Academic and Vocational Support Initiative (CAVSI) has commemorated two decades of dedicated service to community children with a remarkable fun filled ceremony.

The 20th anniversary was celebrated as a resounding success story of CASVI’s impactful services to children and communities through education, empowerment, and partnership that made a difference in their lives.

The event held on April 27, 2024, at Abari Academy, Ilo Awela Tollgate, Sango-Otta, Ogun State also aimed to celebrate the foundation’s significant milestone and to reflect on 20 years of humanitarian services that include advocacy,  training and counselling, and also providing essential life-enhancing skills and opportunities for indigent children within host communities. 

Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were CASVI associates, government officials and community leaders. Some of the community officials were Alhaji Rasheed Tijani; Mrs Comfort Sharemi; Alhaji Olagunju (CDA Patron); Comrade Asafa Abdulsalam (CDA secretary); Alfa Semiu Tijani; Mrs Helen Asiru and Chief Imam of Itesiwaju CDA. Others are parents, children, resource persons, and volunteers.

Activities at the event featured games, music and drama presentations. These also include performances by Immortal Dance Group, Rokib the solo dancer,  and Ebenezer the acrobatic dancer, while the Great Minds drama group also performed. 

With a stirring rendition of the national anthem performed by Emmanuel Adeife on piano, the Secretary to the Board of Trustees Mrs Akanni delivered her address extending gratitude to attendees and emphasizing the importance of unity in achieving greater heights and impacting more lives.

Furthermore, Hakeem Ariori, the founder of CAVSI, provided a brief history of the organization, expressing joy in serving humanity and acknowledging the support of both local and international communities in transforming CAVSI from a family project into a thriving initiative.

Taiwo Alaba, a volunteering worker at CAVSI, highlighted the organization’s milestones and activities over the past two decades. She emphasized CAVSI’s impact on over 5000 children through education, health, and empowerment programs, as well as its partnerships with local and international organizations.

On a side chat with Hakeem Ariori, founder and coordinator of CASVI, he said that CAVSI was set up to equip children with essential life skills and foster holistic development. He mentioned the organization’s humble beginnings and its evolution into a beacon of hope for disadvantaged children.

“Over the years, CAVSI has grown exponentially, through the support of my family, friends, and volunteers. Today, the foundation operates with a board of trustees comprising professionals from diverse fields, ensuring a holistic approach to children’s empowerment.”

Speaking further, he noted that the foundation started as a family thing in Sango-Otta, 20 years ago. According to him his love for children made him initiate the intervention project starting with dancing competitions and comedy shows with prize tags.

“It took eight years for me to be convinced that I really want to do this. By 2012, we were able to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission comprising eight members on the board of trustees,” he added.

Ariori also noted that there has been challenges but his passion for the betterment of the children usually triumphs over that, adding, “my wife and children also supported it.”

“The foundation has grown over the years that we have children from over 50 schools participating. And then it’s growing by the year and we’re also improving and changing our strategies to make sure that it’s not just one thing every time so we are very informal in our approach and most of what we do is done on the street because we believe that children should not be limited by the classroom. So we are saying don’t let the classroom be your world. Let the world be your classroom,” he said. 

He emphasized the transformative impact of collective action in uplifting marginalized youths and called for greater collaboration to address systemic barriers to education.

Other speakers include Babayemi Joseph Olusina, Chairman of Iloye ACDC in Sango-Ota who lauded CAVSI’s efforts in nurturing children’s talents and advocating for inclusivity and Bode Dongbojaiye, a volunteer with CAVSI who highlighted the significance of the career program in equipping children with practical skills and knowledge, essential for their future endeavors.

The programme also saw the recognition of CAVSI partners and others who at every one of their programmes offer vocational skills acquisition to enhance the children’s opportunities for self-sufficiency and empowerment. 

Mrs. Offiniki received a sewing machine to empower her and her family from the organisation as part of CAVSI’s commitment to improving lives beyond educational support. Easter Career Counselling Forum (ECCF) winners were also recognized as certificates were presented to them to welcome them into the initiatives as, stars, gems, and ambassadors.

In all, over 90 guests, 45 children, 11 ambassadors, 25 volunteers, 10 teachers from Abari Academy, and 2 chaplain were present. 19 beneficiaries comprising six children in lower primary and six in upper primary were rewarded with five thousand naira each while six in junior secondary and seven in senior secondary school were supported with ten thousand naira each for their university entrance exams.