Afri-mission and Evangelical Network, a Christian missionary organization, has enrolled 178 out-of-school children in Abuja as part of its efforts to support women and children affected by insecurity across the country. The organization had also recently provided accommodation for more than 70 displaced families in the city.
As part of the initiative, 60 displaced women were enrolled in adult literacy classes. The organization said the beneficiaries were the first group under the programme and that the initiative would be expanded as more funding becomes available.
Oscar Amaechina said many of the children had dropped out of school because their families were displaced by terrorism, while some had never attended school. The NGO provided them with books and school bags and enrolled them in Abuja schools for the new academic year.
The organization also plans to monitor the children’s progress and provide additional academic support. Meanwhile, the 60 selected displaced women will receive basic educational and professional skills to improve their livelihoods.
Mr. Amaechina said the beneficiaries were selected through a thorough process that involved visiting several displaced communities across Abuja. He explained that 178 children were empowered out of the initial target of 200, with most being victims of terrorism and insecurity who had relocated to the city and faced further difficulties.
He added that the initiative would be expanded when more funding is received from its partners, World Outreach Ministries International and Ignited Church Lavonia, Georgia, USA. Amaechina emphasized the importance of supporting women and children, noting that empowering women can positively impact their families and the wider society.
Josephine Amaechina, director of humanitarian services at Afri-mission and senior pastor of Antioch Christian Center, said the initiative aims to restore hope to families displaced by insecurity and insurgency who relocated to Abuja but continue to face hardship. She noted that many of the affected households had also been abandoned by their breadwinners.
She explained that Afri-mission, in partnership with the Ignited Family and other organizations, launched the back-to-school and women’s empowerment initiative to provide children with education and women with skills and economic opportunities. She described the programme as a declaration of hope, emphasizing that every child deserves access to education and every woman should have opportunities to improve her future and that of her family.
Josephine Amaechina said some of the children had never attended school, while others were forced to abandon their education after terrorism displaced their families and left their parents without jobs. She noted that 10 children who reached their final year of secondary school were unable to take their exams because their parents could not afford the fees.
She explained that Afri-mission and Evangelism Network aims to make empowerment practical by providing women and girls with opportunities to gain education, develop skills and achieve economic independence. She added that although the organization cannot solve every problem at once, meaningful change can begin with small, deliberate steps.
Ten students who could not register for their WAEC examinations due to financial difficulties received a total of N50,000 in support during the event. The gesture was aimed at helping them continue their education despite their families’ financial challenges.
The initiative also gave displaced women an opportunity to return to education through adult literacy classes. Beneficiaries such as Akor Grace and Agnes Omotosho expressed gratitude for the opportunity, with Grace saying she had always wanted to become literate, while Omotosho appreciated the organization for enrolling her in literacy classes and supporting her children’s WAEC fees.
