By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
Abuja
Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, in this piece writes that for 1,178 children in Nguru Local Government Area, the dream of completing secondary school that once seemed out of reach is now back on track. Through the Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, SAIL Foundation, former Senate President Ahmad Lawan has launched a fully funded “Second Chance” education drive to return out-of-school students to the classroom. With school fees, books, uniforms and sandals covered, the initiative is being hailed as one of the most direct interventions to tackle educational exclusion in Yobe North Senatorial District.
The Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, SAIL Foundation has officially launched a comprehensive education intervention to return 1,178 out-of-school children to secondary school in Nguru, Yobe State. The announcement was made on Sunday by the founder, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
According to a press release signed by Ezrel Tabiowo, Media Adviser to Senator Ahmad Lawan, the programme is tagged “Second Chance: A SAIL Foundation Education Development Initiative.” It is aimed at expanding access to education in Yobe North.
The drive targets 1,178 carefully selected beneficiaries drawn from 17 secondary schools across Nguru Local Government Area. Organizers said the selection process prioritized vulnerable students most at risk of dropping out permanently.
Senator Lawan stated that the sponsorship package covers the entire duration of the beneficiaries’ secondary education. This means the foundation will pay school fees from the current class until graduation.
Beyond tuition, the SAIL Foundation will provide essential learning materials to ensure students resume fully prepared. The items include school bags, textbooks, uniforms, and sandals for all 1,178 beneficiaries.
“Education remains the most enduring investment we can make in our youth,” Senator Lawan said in the statement. He noted that education is the surest path to breaking the cycle of poverty.
“I have never wavered in the conviction that no child should be left behind because of his or her circumstance,” the former Senate President added. He described the intervention as a moral obligation to the next generation.
To ensure a smooth start to the academic session, the measurement and fitting exercise for uniforms and sandals is scheduled for Monday, 27 July 2026, at 8:00 a.m. prompt. The exercise will take place at Galadima Maidunoma Mega School, Nguru Local Government, opposite Zangon Shanu.
The venue was chosen to conveniently accommodate beneficiaries from all 17 participating schools. Officials said arrangements have been made for orderly turnout and proper record-keeping.
The organizing committee, chaired by Comrade Bashir Sharif Tahir, SAIL Coordinator for Nguru, will oversee the coordination. He will work with principals, PTA representatives, and community leaders to verify beneficiaries.
Comrade Tahir said the committee has compiled and validated the list of 1,178 students to ensure transparency and prevent duplication. He urged parents to cooperate during the fitting exercise.
Senator Lawan called on parents, guardians, and school proprietors to ensure punctual attendance for the exercise. He stressed that timely participation will help the foundation deliver materials before resumption.
Education stakeholders in Nguru have welcomed the SAIL Foundation’s drive, describing it as timely given the economic challenges that have forced many children out of school in Yobe North.
For many households, the cost of uniforms, textbooks and other materials has been the major barrier to education. By removing those costs, the foundation is directly addressing the root causes of dropout.
The intervention is also expected to boost enrollment, improve retention, and reduce the number of out-of-school children in the 17 participating schools. Community leaders say it will have a multiplier effect on the local economy.
“Our commitment to advancing education and creating life-changing opportunities in Yobe North, Yobe State, and beyond remains resolute,” Senator Lawan concluded. With the SAIL Foundation’s Second Chance drive, 1,178 children in Nguru now have a renewed pathway to learning, skills, and a better future.
