NGO, LSETF Sensitise Schools on Skills Transfer

Oluchi Chibuzor

A non-profit organisation, Call to Love Initiative, in collaboration with Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), has sensitised low cost schools on strategies and skills to improve the quality of education they provide.

According to the NGO, the move was as a result of the feedback it got from low cost school owners and teachers about requiring funding to provide facilities needed to enhance the learning process of their students.

The founder, Omowunmi Ajila, said the organisation is glad that the state government, through LSETF has a dedicated fund for low cost schools, where they can access loans as high as N5 million with interest rates as low as 9 per cent, to improve their school facilities.

“This forum is aimed at appreciating low cost school owners and teachers for their efforts in terms of imparting knowledge and skills in the children and also to sensitise them about the available funds provided by the Lagos State government through the LSETF.”

“We employ a targeted approach of interaction with our beneficiaries and delivery of projects that drive lasting solutions and contribute positively to transforming our target audience. Our mission is to enrich lives through social development and our target audience are pupils from low cost schools and orphanages.”

Ajila added: “We are trying to ensure that students in low cost schools can compete equally with more privileged students from high cost schools. Our vision is to also raise a pipeline of beneficiaries that can pave the way forward in the nearest future.”

The Head, Micro Enterprise and Micro Enterprise Startup, LSETF, Funsho Ogunlumade said the funds provided is for low cost schools operating in Lagos “as one of our missions is to create employment opportunities and wealth for residents of Lagos.

“You cannot underrate the role of the education sector in building a credible society which is why we have partnered with Call to Love Initiative to come to the grassroot to engage the low cost schools to enlighten them on how to access funds that are available.

Ogunlumade said they also partnered First Bank and Edfin Microfinance Bank to disburse the loans to the school owner.

The Head, Community Banking Unit, First Bank, Akinwande Meadows said the partnership aims to reduce the negative impact of COVID-19 on theqrv education sector.

“In regards to eligibility for the loans, the school must be registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission and must have been operating for at least a year. The school must have evidence of tax payment.

“We also require that the school or training centre should have at least a minimum of fifty students. Also, the provision of guarantors is required. As regards the tenure of the loans, we have the 12 months and 24 months duration.”