Children in Lagos slums can’t afford N30 per day as school fees, says NGO

Many children in Makoko and other slums in Lagos are out of school because their parents are unable to pay their school fees, says Betty Abah, executive director of the centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE).

Abah, whose organisation works with underpriviledged children, said this at the launch of Save Our Women and Girls Foundation (SOW & G), an NGO founded by Unyime Ivy King, a writer and a volunteer for the United Nations.

Abah said many of these children cannot go to school even though fees are as low as N30 to N50.

Imploring people to be responsive to the needs of the less privileged, Abah said, “the wealth, the resources that God has given you is to bring succour to the widespread suffering in the world”.

“It is not for you to show off or live in unnecessary opulence. A little can make so much difference, giving is the best way to maximise your lives, to inspire hope in otherwise hopeless situations and make the world a better place for all.”

Also speaking at the event was Abayomi Ajayi, fertility expert and managing director of nordica fertility centre.

Ajayi spoke about endometriosis, a gynaecological disorder which causes painful menstruation and other discomforts in women.

He said one in 10 women has endometriosis and these women are often mislabelled, mishandled and misdiagnosed over the years. He added that though the disorder has no cure, it could be managed.

Unyime-Ivy, founder of SOW & G, said the organisation “was borne out of the need to serve as a structural support for work she has been doing informally for many years”.

She said it will focus on creating social developmental awareness on issues that concern women and girls.

The organisation will also focus on training, mentoring, educating and building the capacity of women and girls in Nigeria and also raising funds to support credible NGOs that are into gender advocacy.