A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) PlungeSmile Foundation, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has planned to seek international bodies support in its drive to reach out to a target one million less-privileged school children across Africa in the next five years.
The foundation made the call at an event to further highlighted the first 20 years of the Foundation’s activities and its vision in the country.
Speaking at the programme, the Group Managing Director, PlungeSmile Foundation, Olayemi Popoola, said that the foundation is seeking to give young ones opportunities to achieve their goals as they are seen as the future leaders.
According to him, “When we set up business, the Reliance Group, we felt like we shouldn’t just be focused on making money and making employees happy.
We also decided to impart happiness to the people all around us, especially the younger ones who we see as the leaders of tomorrow.”
Popoola, also revealed that the foundation has a 50-year ambitious plan to impact 30 million students across Africa with its mission.
“20 years down the line, we have only adopted seven to eight schools. Today we feed 1000 students on a daily basis.
So long they go to school, they are sure of one meal, which we provide today. We are hopeful that we will be able to extend this to other schools all across Nigeria, with the help and support of corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians.
We are building our first model in Kwara State. This is because we have limited funding for now. And we are doing public schools because that is where the impact will be felt the most.”
“What we are trying to do today is to seek support from well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies, to join force with us. It is also an opportunity for them to extend social good to their own businesses as well, he said.
Also speaking to the activities of the foundation, the Vice President, PlungeSmile Foundation, Andy Eberechukwu Akukwe, said that the foundation has transformed the lifestyle of thousands of individuals.
He added that the foundation’s programmes are carried out in public secondary schools, and some of the people that we impacted are now graduates in their rights, and doing well in the society, and some of them are even supporting the charitable works of PlungeSmile.
Backed by Reliance Infosystems and its sister companies – DigiTanks, Cloudway Africa and Reliance Datatech, PlungeSmile Foundation is an educational and welfare nonprofit seeking to holistically educate and empower individuals to reach their full potential and become self-reliant.
The Foundation, which empowers and uplifts marginalised individuals and communities by providing comprehensive support and resources, through collaboration, advocacy, and innovative solutions, aims to breach the cycle of poverty and inequality, fostering sustainable development and long-term positive change. Its interventions cross into Education, Infrastructure, Health & Nutrition, among others.
Under its intervention in education, PlungeSmile Foundation has initiated School Feeding Programme (SFP) for some public schools; Kit-Up-a-Child scheme designed to provide complete school clothing attire, including uniforms, socks, shoes, and bags, for pupils in public schools, thereby providing a sense of belonging to the child; and the Audiovisual Learning programme, which creates and serves as an enlightening platform for students in underserved rural areas, helping them realise the importance of learning, and dedication to work.
