Foundation, LASSRA celebrate inclusive education, empowerment

… hosts maiden raffle draw event

SEED Care & Support Foundation, a leading advocate for affordable non-state education in Nigeria, partnered with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) to host the inaugural edition of a raffle draw contest on Friday.

This groundbreaking event, held in Lagos, champions inclusion, identity, and access to public services for underserved communities and low-fee private schools across Lagos State.

The partnership was established with a clear vision: to register students, staff, and parents of low-fee private schools, extending its reach to the wider community.

In her keynote address, the Executive Director of SEED Care & Support Foundation, Mrs Olanrewaju Oniyitan, highlighted the importance of the initiative.

She stated, “Together, we are working to ensure that no child, no parent, and no teacher is left behind in Lagos State’s journey toward equitable access to public services.”

The initiative, which began in December 2024 with 7 pilot schools and an initial registration of 570 individuals, has now expanded to 3,226 registered individuals across 63 low-fee private schools. This milestone underscores the impact of the LASRRA-SEED partnership in fostering access to identity and opportunity.

Oniyitan emphasised that beyond the numbers, this initiative represents inclusion in action. “It’s about empowering our communities with access to identity, inclusion, and visibility in government planning. More people now have access to state services, more visibility is given to communities often overlooked, and more dignity is provided to every child whose name is now recognised in the state system,” she said.

She urged all low-fee private schools in Lagos to take advantage of the LASRRA partnership by helping students, teachers, and parents secure their official identification and access essential services. She also encouraged school owners and private school associations to embrace the initiative, noting that registration remains ongoing.

The General Manager of LASRRA, Mrs Adebiyi Abiola, expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration and commended SEED Care & Support Foundation for its commitment to inclusion.

She announced that the raffle draw would be held every three months as part of LASRRA’s mission to ensure that every child in Lagos has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential as the “future of Lagos”.

Adebiyi urged students and schools within the SEED Care & Support Foundation network to register with LASRRA, stating, “We encourage individuals under the SEED umbrella to partner with us. Registering with LASRRA allows us to capture your details in the government database, ensuring that you can benefit from the opportunities and services provided by the Lagos State government.”

The event recognised five lucky pupils as winners of the raffle draw, with many more contests planned throughout the year.

The winners and their respective schools are: Akingbagbohun Elizabeth (6 years old, Kindergarten) – Glory Access Schools; Awoselu Ezebel (4 years old, Nursery One) – Adtak School; Onieka David (5 years old, Primary One) – De-Ample Gate School; Taiwo Muiz Olanrewaju (5 years old, Kindergarten One) – Nairullahiazeez Islamic School; Ikram Salvador Gbolahun (8 years old, Primary Three) – Afraz Private School.

Alayande Moryan, Headmistress of Afraz Private School, expressed her appreciation for SEED Care & Support Foundation and LASRRA, acknowledging their efforts in promoting inclusion and access to public services for underserved communities and affordable non-state schools.