WACOT Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading agricultural input companies, has renovated blocks of classrooms in two public primary schools in Kebbi, and Katsina states.
The company has also provide free notebooks to pupils of the two schools, as part of it corporate commitment to women empowerment and uplifting educational standards across communities in northern part of the country.
According to the company, the renovation and donations of educational items was conceived under its integrated support approach being executed under a Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) activities.
Kumar Bhatia, who is the head of corporate responsibility and sustainability (CR&S) division of the company, disclosed that the company renovated two blocks of classrooms, donated furniture and instructional materials at Magajin Rafi Primary School in Argungu local government area of Kebbi state.
Bhatia further said the gesture was the second in sequence, as the company had earlier rehabilitated six classrooms and donated similar materials to Mairuwa Community School in Katsina state last year in the effort geared towards supporting the farming families.
He said the company has been supporting several social and economic initiatives for farmers whom he described as “partners in progress”, pointing out that the integrated approach is to ensure that the farming communities benefit holistically in areas of Health, Education and other capacity building initiatives beside supporting them in farming business.
Explained further, Bhatia revealed that the CR&S division of the company is also partnering different international agencies like GIZ, Propcom Maikarfi, in the execution of projects, such as health awareness camps, formation of self-help group and capacity building, women empowerment, health facility and schools renovation to identified farming communities.
He added that the company is doing such initiatives in Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Gombe, Kaduna and Abuja FCT.
In his address, Sadiq Kassim, director corporate affairs, expressed company’s management appreciation over Emir of Argungu support on its activities and described the gesture as the beginning as many will be executed in future.
Kassim said besides the 100000 metric tonnes Rice Processing Mill which the company planned to establish in Argungu, Kebbi, more agricultural business activities had been designed for the area
In his remark while unveiling the projects, His Royal Highness Emir of Argungu, Sama’ila Muhammadu-Mera, said the projects would surely benefit students and brighten their performance.
Muhammadu-Mera commended the company for the support noting that the company was the first with such gestures on education and health in the domain and urged school management to ensure judicious use of the facilities.
Also commenting, Muhammadu Manuga, Zonal Director of Education in charge of Argungu LGA, who represented the state Commissioner of Education, acknowledged vital contributions of the company, and enjoined other companies to emulate them adding that such contribution will go a long way in improving children performance in the school.
Some of the high point of interest during the ceremony was the presentation of drama and quiz competitions by the pupils.
Some of the dignitaries that graced the occasion includes Garba Dandiga who represented Commissioner of Agriculture, and the School PTA chairman, Ibrahim Fakai among others
