LRF Initiates School Visits in Ondo State

LRF Initiates School Visits in Ondo State

School Names: Saint John Mega Caring Heart Primary School, Idi-Iroko, Akure South LGA and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Ondo Road.

Contact Person: Headmistress, Mrs. Asekere D.O.

Date of Visit: Wednesday, 30^th October, 2024

Programme Overview

The visit to Saint John Mega Caring Heart Primary School, organized by the Literary Renaissance Foundation (LRF), commenced at 10:00 a.m. Approximately eighty pupils and nine teachers attended the event. Representing the LRF were:

1. Lebile Olusola
2. Aladegbeye Gabriel

The SUBEB officer, Mrs. Olatuyi Akinmoladun, introduced the visiting team, and Mr. Sola Lebile was invited to lead the main session.

Event Highlights

Mr. Lebile began by explaining the purpose of the visit and the role of LRF in promoting a reading culture across Nigeria, including in Ondo State. He engaged the pupils by asking if they had heard the novel Things Fall Apart and its author. While only two pupils were familiar with the title, they couldn’t correctly name the author.

In response to the interest shown, Mr. Lebile promised to donate a copy of Things Fall Apart to the school, sharing a brief background of the story to inspire interest. Additionally, he conducted a Q&A session and awarded five hundred naira each to pupils who answered questions satisfactorily. Five books donated by LRF were also presented to the school to encourage reading among the students.

The session concluded with an appreciation from the school management, who expressed gratitude for LRF’s support and pledged to encourage pupils to read more. The program ended at 11:00 a.m.

Additional Visit

The LRF team proceeded to Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School on Ondo Road, where a similar program was held. The Assistant Headmistress, Mrs. Lawal A.O., welcomed the team and introduced the event. A pupil, Master Idowu Moyosore, read a passage from one of the storybooks, and pupils who answered questions correctly were rewarded with gift items. About fifty pupils and seven teachers participated in the session.

Challenges

A challenge was the lack of available volunteers. Due to illness, a designated volunteer was unable to attend which limited the team’s capacity.

Prospects and Future Recommendations

Both schools were enthusiastic about LRF’s visit, and Saint John Mega Caring Heart Primary School granted the team access to its library facilities. The LRF team encouraged teachers to allow pupils more frequent use of the library, reinforcing the importance of reading. The visit set a strong foundation for potential long-term partnerships, benefiting the schools, pupils, and ultimately, contributing to the national educational agenda.

Report Compiled By:

Lebile Olusola

Volunteer, Literary Renaissance Foundation