MKI Foundation Awards Scholarships to 50 Students, Trains Over 300 in Various Skills

Mary Nnah

The Makoji Kelvin Ibrahim (MKI) Foundation has awarded full-year scholarships to 50 students and trained over 300 teenagers in various skills during its recently concluded Bridge Nigeria summer boot camp in Idah, Kogi State.

The Founder of the MKI Foundation, Mr. Makoji Kelvin Ibrahim, emphasised the importance of empowering young people with skills and mentorship during the boot camp.

He said, “Our goal is to equip these young adults with the right mindset and skills to prepare them for the future. We trained them in computer literacy, financial literacy, and software development, and also taught them not to rely solely on white-collar jobs.”

To achieve this, the Foundation partnered with local businesses in Idah, such as mechanics, make-up artists, barbers, small chops vendors, bakers, and fashion designers, to teach the participants various skills. This year, the Foundation partnered with five key schools in Idah, including St. Peters College, St. Kizito Seminary Secondary School, Polytechnic Secondary School, Government Technical College, and Holy Rosary Secondary School.

At the end of the boot camp, the MKI Foundation awarded certificates to all participants and offered full-year scholarships to 50 students.
Ibrahim stated, “Empowering young people is a passion project for me, and we chose to give scholarships to some students to impact the less privileged who may not be able to pay us back. We hope to expand our reach next year to include more children in Idah, Kogi State, and eventually across Nigeria.”

The Deputy State Commander of the Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abdullahi Zuwaira, delivered a lecture to the teenagers about the dangers of drug abuse.
“Our goal is to catch them young and teach them the right things before others influence them. This is a great initiative by the MKI Foundation”, she emphasised.

Executive Director Virtuous Reusable Pads, Tabitha Abimiku said they partnered with the MKI Foundation for the 2024 Bridge Summer Boot Camp, to empower young people to overcome challenges and envision a brighter future.

She said, “Our participation in this boot camp was beyond just words but about action. We partnered to provide 114 young school girls with reusable pads, ensuring they don’t have to miss school due to a lack of menstrual products.

” By partnering with MKI, we are not only supporting these girls but also working to ensure they have the tools, support, and confidence to thrive, no matter their circumstances. Together, we’re making a difference in their lives, helping them reach their full potential”, Abimiku said.

One of the students, Simon Emmanuel, shared his experience at the camp.
“I learned that there is no shortcut to success, but there is a fast way to succeed, which is through education. I also learned that acquiring skills in addition to formal education can help me make money in this economy.”