By Taiye Olayemi
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Rose of Sharon parish, Ikeja, is to distribute academic materials to no fewer than 2000 children ahead of the September school resumption.
Pastor Chichi Obiagwu, Head of the women ministry in the parish who disclosed this in a statement, said the distribution programme was conceived in 2016, by the women’s fellowship of the parish, known as “Oaks of Righteousness”.
Obiagwu said the kind gesture was targeted at the less privileged children of members of the parish, the immediate community in Ikeja GRA and the neighbourhood community in Shogunle.
According to her, the committee setup to organise the year’s programme had been mandated with the task of catering for 1,000 to 2,000 children, as the distribution holds Aug. 31, at the church premises
“Items to be provided include: school bags, water bottles, food flasks, exercise boosks, note books, pens, pencils, mathematical sets and socks amongst others.
“The past editions recorded huge success and last year in particular was highly impactful where indigent families who heard about the programme turned up in huge numbers and filled the church premises as early as 6:30.a.m, waiting to receive these items.
“It was a delight to the church and most rewarding to support the children of our neighbouring community in this regard.
The cleric said following the experience in 2023, the decision was made to increase the number of children to be catered for.
She expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity afforded the parish to support the less privileged children.
She also appreciated the members of the church for rising up to the occasion and donating generously toward the items required which would make the programme a huge success.
“This will go a long way to relieve the financial burden of parents who would have had to provide these items for their children, something which a good number of them would not have been able to afford,” she said.
Also, Pastor Emeka Obiagwu, Pastor in charge of the parish said that the ROS back to school initiative will continue to sit alongside many other programmes under the CSR umbrella of the RCCG, Rose of Sharon pariah and by extension RCCG Lagos Province 35, region 20.
Obiagwu who also doubles as the Assistant Pastor in charge of RCCG Lagos Province 35 for CSR said that the parish had a fully equipped CSR Centre in Ikeja where over 5 major courses were offered routinely.
He said this catered for all who were willing to embrace change and learn new skills for economic empowerment.
According to him, the centre had produced close to 500 people right from inception in 2018.
