…Sugar company lifts mood of pupils, teachers in Niger community

By Wole Mosadomi, Minna

Now they can smile! And, they can sit down with a sense of dignity and concentrate on reading, writing and listen attentively to their teachers. The reason is not farfetched! The pupils of Mokwaa Primary School in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, have for many years been schooling in unconducive environment that somehow approximates to hell on earth. But now, it appears they have found their long awaited heaven on earth: well-furnished classrooms with tables, chairs and other working materials supportive of teaching and learning. This is what they have been dreaming of for years. And, this is what they have finally been given by the Sunti Sugar Company, something that has brought sweetness in place of bitterness that was their lot before now.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, the company opted to serve one of the most pressing needs of its core community by providing funds to build a modern four-classroom block to accommodate the students and teachers. For years the pupils were camped in a rickety container which served as their classroom to the shame and embarrassment of the people of the community.

The new block of classrooms is complete with offices and toilets for teachers. It was completed at the cost of N27 million and handed over to the Diocese of Kutigi Anglican Communion, whose member, Mrs. Harikleia Apalki, started in memory of her late husband some years back.

The General Manager of Sunti Sugar Company, Mr. Anlo Du Pisani, said the company took it up as part of its corporate social responsibilities towards developing its immediate constituency and to encourage mutual co-existence between it and the community.

“In August 2022, the company conducted an independent needs assessment of its host community to identify priority areas for development out of which education was given priority. In realisation of the fact that education is key in providing a prosperous and happy life, helping to improve the economy and helping to give equal opportunity to all, the company decided to embark on an education project and the project was funded majorly by it and a foreign donor at a total cost of N27,265,177,” Pisani declared.

“The company had also intervened by solving the accommodation crisis being experienced by the school since 2018 by donating two 40-foot containers partitioned into two classrooms each and were donated to the school.

Patini affirmed the commitment of the company towards being a “reliable partner, work with all stakeholders through a well-defined funding programme and continue to avail our technical expertise and opportunities to our host communities where available or applicable based on global best practices will continue.”

The Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger state Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, called on government, parents, organisations to give priority attention to education for speedy development of the nation.
While calling on parents in the community to enroll their wards in the school to acquire Western education, he also encouraged them to give priority to girl-child education in order not to allow the female children be relegated to the background in the society.

Represented by the Ndacheko Nupe, Alhaji Baiwa Mohammed, the Etsu Nupe commended the management of Sunti Sugar for its gesture and called on all other corporate organisations in the state to contribute their quota to the development of the state.

The Chairman, Mokwa LGA, Alhaji Jibrin Abdullahi Muregi, who unveiled the plague and launched the classroom block, lauded the company for the gesture, noting that the company had over the years lived up to its corporate social responsibility by providing social amenities to the host community.

For immediate action and compliance, the local government chairman directed the Education Secretary of the council, Alhaji Umar Muhammed Tayi, to provide 50 chairs and tables to the school.

The chairman also approved the immediate deployment of more teachers to the school so as to complement efforts of the sugar company.

“Since we were unable to build, we should be able to take responsibility and so we will start by donating 50 sets of chairs and tables, deploy teachers to the school and ensure frequent supervision of what is happening in this school.

“Also, when we want to categorise all schools in Mokwa LGA, this school should be in Category ‘A'”, the local government chairman said.

Bishop of Kutigi Diocese, Bishop Jeremiah Kolo, thanked the company for the completion of the project, describing it as a monumental achievement not only for the community but for the state.

Going down memory lane, the Bishop said the Church had laid the foundation of the building some years back but could not continue due to financial constraint, saying: “We thank God that through the efforts of the company and its commitment to the development of its host communities, this edifice has been completed and handed over to us.

“It is notable that this donation has helped the school to start the Junior Secondary School and as at today has gotten final approval for the Senior Secondary School, and this is made possible through our partnership with the company and our host community,” the Bishop said.