[dropcap]H[/dropcap]yundai Motors Nigeria Limited (HMNL) has described basic education as a prime obligation of all children of school age, pledging to continually assist school pupils in Nigeria in line with Hyundai Motor Corporation’s corporate social responsibility values of ‘Moving the World Together.’
HMNL made this remark at the commencement of the distribution of this year’s Hyundai-branded educational enhancing materials to hundreds of thousands of school pupils across seven states in a campaign tagged ‘Education for Brighter Tomorrow.’
No fewer than 13 schools in three geo-political zones of South-West, North Central, and South-South are listed as beneficiaries of this year’s campaign, which started in Lagos and Ibadan, Oyo States respectively.
The campaign which is ongoing moves to Benin, Asaba, Warri, Calabar, Port-Harcourt and Abuja, the Hyundai Motor manufacturing and marketing company affirmed.
Addressing students and teachers of Dairy Farm Senior Secondary School Agege Lagos, Hyundai Motors Nigeria Head of Sales and Marketing Jatin Nadkarni said the charitable initiative was a continuation of HMNL commitment to children’s of the less privileged welfare.
“This initiative began in 2010 with donation of supplies to the less privileged including old people’s homes and orphanages with the chief aim of halving the population of children vulnerable to malaria scourge, especially those aged between six months and five years, representing 52 percent of the country’s populace,” Mr. Nadkarni explained. “It is imperative to bridge the gap between children of the rich and poor especially those in basic schools by motivating the less privileged children to learn without fear of discrimination.”
He pledged the company’s commitment to influencing the enrollment of more children of school age in basic schools through the provision of educational support materials such as school bags, exercise books, water bottles, pens/pencils and mathematical sets among others.
“With children less than 15 years of age accounting for 45% of the country’s population, the burden on education and other sectors has become overwhelming,” the Hyundai marketing helmsman said.
Also lamenting that about 4.7million children of primary school age are still not in school despite increase in enrollment rates, Mr Nadkarni said “the branded Hyundai educational materials will not only entice more students but assuage the cost borne by their parents in procuring fundamental basic items needed by the children.”
He told the school children who congregated for photo shots after receiving their branded educational materials that “Hyundai Motors is determined to avoid undue intimidation caused by the widening gap between the rich and the poor in today’s volatile society.”
Hyundai Motors Corporation dedicates a substantial percentage of her earnings to corporate social responsibility particularly youth and sports development as well as education and healthcare.
Responding, Dr. Mrs. Ayandele O. A, Tutor General, Dairy Farm Secondary School Agege Lagos applauded HMNL gestures, pledging the school’s commitment to uplifting child development through enhanced learning.
