A secondary school in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has introduced a scholarship scheme for 35 disadvantaged students to reduce school dropouts and discourage early marriages.
The initiative, launched by the management of Government Secondary School, Bako, targets indigent students and orphans who face difficulties continuing their education.
The school’s principal, Ibrahim Paisa, disclosed this during a youth sensitisation and peace-building visit organised by the Change a Child Community Initiative, an NGO led by its founder, Blessing Awamba.
Paisa explained that the scholarship programme gives special consideration to female students as part of efforts to improve girl-child education.
He revealed that girls account for about 25 of the 35 beneficiaries. According to him, the students earned the support because of their academic performance and disadvantaged backgrounds.
FCT Scholarship Scheme Prioritises Girl-Child Education
The principal said the school introduced the programme to give vulnerable students better opportunities to complete their education.
He stressed that educating girls would benefit not only their families but also society at large.
“The essence of giving 35 students scholarship is that these students are within the indigent and orphan category. The majority out of this 35, about 25 of them are female students, brilliant and indigent students,” Paisa said.
He added that the school deliberately prioritised female students to reduce the risks of school abandonment and early marriage.
“We need to encourage female education because there is one adage, educating a girl is educating a nation. So we came out with that policy to consider female child for scholarship to avoid drop out and early marriage,” he explained.
Paisa also praised the NGO’s outreach programme, which carries the theme, “Change a Child, Change a Community, Change the World.”
He said the engagement would encourage peaceful coexistence, improve civic awareness and strengthen students’ participation in community development.
The programme will also support the activities of the school’s existing environmental and community empowerment clubs.
Kwali School Management Commends Initiative
At another stop during the NGO’s outreach, the Vice Principal of Government Secondary School, Kwali, Majin Uma, welcomed the initiative.
Uma highlighted the importance of patience, quality education and merit-based opportunities in building a peaceful society.
He maintained that these values remain essential to youth development and lasting peace.
The outreach brought attention to the role of schools and community organisations in supporting vulnerable children, promoting education and preparing young people for responsible participation in society.