Okrika (Rivers) – No fewer than 600 pupils in Rivers have received learning materials to ease the financial burden on their parents and guardians when resuming school in January.
Founder of the Abundance Grace Outreach project, Mrs Olubukola Ilevbare, presented the items to the children and their parents on Monday in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items distributed include school bags, foot wears, clothing, Bibles, cartons of noodles, food items, and party packs.
In addition to this, scholarships were awarded to five children, with each recipient receiving N100,000.
Ilevbare explained that the initiative was inspired by the organisation’s commitment to providing humanitarian services to the less privileged in the society.
She said the outreach programme had benefited thousands of children and their families since its inception in 2016.
“This is the ninth edition of the outreach, designed to bring hope, happiness and celebration to the downtrodden in the society.
“It is part of our efforts to spread joy and make a positive impact on the lives of children and residents in communities, especially during the festive seasons,” she said.
Ilevbare noted that the level of poverty in the society had excluded many children from experiencing the joy of Christmas, adding that the season symbolised compassion, love, and shared humanity.
“Sometimes Christmas comes and goes and some children do not even understand what it means to celebrate Christmas.
“Our visit to Okrika is to let them know that they are loved, to enable them to enjoy Christmas, and to reassure them that God cares about them,” she added.
She commended the organisation’s partners, volunteers, and well-wishes who contributed to the success of the 2025 outreach, while reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to sustaining the initiative.
This initiative, she said would ensure that more children and families benefit in the 2026 edition of the programme.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Love Christ, whose two children received the scholarship, expressed gratitude to the organisation for supporting her children’s education.
She explained that 2025 had been a very challenging year for her family, particularly in meeting the cost of schooling.
“I am very happy that my two children are among the five scholarship beneficiaries.
“This is an answered prayer for my family as the money will support my children’s education and lessen the burden on us,” she said. (NAN)
