Education is Key To Children’s Development, says Indonesian Ambassador To Nigeria
Oru Leonard
The Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, AVM (Rtd) Dr. H. Usra Hendra Harahap has said that Education is key to children’s development around the world.
Dr Harahap said this during the commissioning/ cutting ceremony of projects in 3 Nomadic Primary Schools in Abuja on Thursday, February 6, 2020 by the Indonesian Embassy in Nigeria.
In his remarks at the three LEA Nomadic Primary Schools located at Galadimawa and Airport Road Abuja, the Ambassador expressed his profound gratitude to the Federal Government of Nigeria for her immense support and assistance in providing an opportunity to give back to the society through education.
He stated that the world is one, and Nigeria and Indonesia are world communities which are only separated by administrative matters but have same goal, “to educate the children.”
His Excellency Usra Hendra Harahap who was gladdened by the successful completion of the charity works to the schools through the collaboration of the Indonesian embassy in Abuja with the Indonesian Women Association in Nigeria, led by Mrs. Nenny Harahap, called for the support of the nomadic children, in ensuring that they are given basic education.
Earlier, the Director, Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Dr. Adam Jatau Noma, who was represented at the charity event by Mrs. Helen Ibezim, Head of Primary School UBEB, said the presence of UBEB at the event is significant, and appreciated the gesture of the Indonesian embassy to the nomads. He said that the embassy has the interest of the Nigerian children at heart.
“Such gesture shown by the Indonesian embassy to the children will forever remain in their hearts, and the impact will be on for generations”, Noma noted.
Dr Noma who hinted that the Indonesian embassy and UBEB will have sustainable partnerships, urged the nomadic children to appreciate and learn with the minimal learning materials they have at their reach.
Also speaking, the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) Chairman, Mallam Mohammadu Bello, who thanked the Indonesian embassy for impacting the lives of their wards, called for more support from other organisations for the growth of the nation, by educating the children and providing conducive learning environment to them.
In an interview with journalists, the Principal, L.E.A Nomadic School Galadima 2 RUGA, Mr. Dahiru Idris,
lamented that the school is being encroached by the surrounding estates. “We do not know the boundary”.
He noted that the school was established January 4, 1999, started with 15 students on the enrollment list, but now has a population of 105 students with only three teachers work under much stress. He said that some challenges facing the school are lack of teaching materials, inadequate classrooms, water, libraries and encroachment of their lands by surrounding estate owners.
The principal thanked the Indonesian Embassy for the building of two classrooms blocks and pleaded for more assistance from the Nigerian government and UBEB, saying that with such gestures and support, the teachers and children will be motivated greatly both to teach and also to learn.
A teacher who was elated at the gesture by the Indonesian embassy said that as at 2017, the students did not have good classrooms and barely spoke English nor understood her while teaching but now, they show great interest and willingness to learn.
Projects commissioned were, L.E.A Nomadic Primary School Galadimawa: RUGA (2)- One block of two classrooms; L.E.A Nomadic Primary School Angwan Fulani, Lugbe Airport Road- One block of mini library;L.E.A Nomadic primary school Aso Estate lugbe Airport Road- one block of toilet for boys and girls and a mini play ground.
Recall that last year the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in collaboration with Indonesian Women Association in Abuja, Indonesian community in Abuja and Indonesian Ladies Association in Abuja organised a bazaar called ” Taste of Indonesia 2019″. There was fundraising of which the proceeds were used to execute the projects commissioned by the Ambassador yesterday.
