SOVCI empowers over 100 Children with school supplies in Lagos

The Smiles for the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Initiative (SOVCI) has reaffirmed the importance of inclusive and equitable education with the organisation of its Street to School Initiative to mark the 2026 International Day of Education, equipping over 100 children with essential learning materials in Lagos State.

The event, organised in collaboration with Youth Orientation for Development and the Lagos State Ministry of Education, held at the Professor A.O.K. Noah Hall, Lagos State University of Education, Oto-Ijanikin.

It brought together pupils and students from public primary and secondary schools across the area, alongside teachers, educationists and relevant government officials.

More than 100 beneficiaries from public schools within the Oto-Ijanikin axis received school bags, writing materials and other educational supplies aimed at supporting their learning and preventing school dropout.

Speaking at the event, Founder and Team Lead of SOVCI, Euriel Momah, said the initiative was designed to keep indigent and vulnerable children in school by easing the burden of basic educational requirements on families from poor backgrounds.

Momah explained that the Street to School Initiative, launched in January 2023, was created in response to the growing number of children at risk of dropping out due to financial hardship.

He noted that beyond distributing school supplies, the organisation also pays school fees and supports some students in tertiary institutions.

“Our vision and objective are simple: to keep indigent, poor and vulnerable children in school,” he said, adding that denying children access to education exposes them to exploitation and deepens social inequality.

He appealed to kind-hearted individuals and organisations to support SOVCI’s programmes, stressing that increased funding would enable the organisation to reach more children in dire need and expand its impact across communities.

Speaking on the theme, “The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education,” President of Youth Orientation for Development, Emmanuel Ejogu, urged young people to remain creative, impact-driven and actively involved in shaping the future of education.

He emphasised the need for youths to participate in educational planning and reforms to make learning more practical, inclusive and transformative.

Ejogu also stressed that vulnerable children deserve quality education, describing them not merely as recipients of charity but as holders of potential and co-creators of solutions when given access and opportunity.

Also speaking, S. A. Dosumu of Lagos State University commended SOVCI’s efforts in bridging educational gaps and called on educators to uphold high standards in delivering quality education to children who depend on them.

The Head of Service, Ojo Local Government Education Authority, Mrs Ogunwesi, applauded teachers for their dedication and encouraged students to remain focused and disciplined in their studies.

The event featured poetry recitations, short documentary screenings and the presentation of school supplies to pupils, reinforcing the message that education remains a fundamental right and a powerful tool for social transformation.