By  Gabriel Olawale

SMILES were put on the  faces of 638 underpriviledged school children in Lagos recently when The Daniel Ogechi Akujobi Memorial (DOAM) Foundation  held a  mentorship and education programme focused on building leadership skills in children of the Zion Primary School, Iyana-Paja  in line with the 2010  Children’s Day celebration.

Programme Manager of the Foundation, Mrs. Douye Ikhumi said about  638 children were reached during the event. “We gave them educational materials (note books, pencils, text books, school bags, biros, rulers, and nutritional support.

Pupils with outstanding academic performance obtained motivational books  provided by Laterna Ventures. The DOAM Foundation was set up in moemory of Master Daniel Ogechi Akujobi,  an intelligent and charismatic boy who passed away on Thursday, October 27, 2005, following a tragic motor accident.

It is purely a charitable, non-profit, humanitarian, non-governmental organisation  dedicated to the enhancement of the education and health of less-privileged children and youths in the society.

Established on April 26, 2007, the DOAM Foundation has engaged in the provision of healthcare and educational support to over 2,000 less privileged children and youths in the society.  A number of educational and mentorship programmes have been held in  schools such as Ebenezer & Banjo Primary of the Ilaje community, where over 712 children received nutritional, psychosocial and educational support.

It has also   visited the Red Cross Society of Nigeria,  Remand Home, Aja, and Lekki Motherless Babies’ Homes and dewormed over 575 children in  Ipakodo and Italewa communities of Ikorodu among others.