Famfa Oil Limited, one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous owned exporters of crude oil hosted its second annual literacy day at City Hall, Lagos state, on March 6, 2020.
The program themed “Readers are Leaders” is an educative Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative fuelled by the company to foster a reading culture among children in primary schools, empowering them to lead through the exercise of their creativity, now and in their future careers or industries.
During the opening remarks while address the audience, Folorunso Alakija, Vice Chairman, Famfa Oil Limited stressed the importance of knowledge, stating that literacy is the bedrock of education which enables children to discover and develop their full potential in life, thus empowering them to be leaders.
“We have strategically targeted our CSR project in education to encourage literacy in primary school pupils which is the breathing ground for productive Nigeria leaders of tomorrow. These skills are necessary in todays’ modern world and essential to the functioning of developed economics. When children are encouraged to read, it enables them to discover their full potential in life, thereby empowering them to be future leaders,” Alakija said.
She further explained that literacy plays a major role in reducing poverty as well as inequality, creating wealth which is an impetus for economic growth in Nigeria.
Guest readers at the event were, Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani, Managing Director, EnergyInc. Advisors, Oscar Gbemileke, Managing Director, Amber 11 Media, Ada Ogunkeye, a renowned Media Personality and Bankole Williams , Africa’s Peak Performance Coach, who all creatively read along with the children from chapters of the book titled ‘The First Female Ruler of L’Eko” written by Oluwatofunmi Lawal, a child author.
Other activities of the day included a drama presentation by Proud African Roots, which showcased the resilience of an orphan in receiving educational empowerment which resulted in him rising to leadership within his community.
The stage performance was followed by a Spelling competition, run by Nigeria Spelling Bee which further aided the pupils in developing their vocabulary. The winner of the Famfa Oil Literacy Day spelling competition was Oscar Elizabeth of Bodmak Solid Beginning School. Wisdom Jackson of Godsave Nursery & Primary School and Ogungbeje Janet of Ken-Ade Private School emerged as the first and second runners-up respectively.
The three finalists will further compete with other contestants at the South West Regional Level. The best speller will proceed to the National Level, representing Nigeria at the 2020 Africa Spelling Bee competition in November.
Sponsors of the program included, the Association for Formidable Education Development, Airtel Nigeria, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Digital Reality Print who were the official print sponsors of the event, Guaranty Trust Bank, Mission Pink Cruise, Nigeria Spelling Bee, Primera Foods Nigeria Limited, SoYummy Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Sweet Sensation Confectionery Limited and Upbeat Recreation Centre.
