Against the backdrop of challenges posing a threat to the Dreams of many young Nigerians, the founder of Yattiyr Scholarship Initiative, Dr John Fatoye, has said that when properly educated, underprivileged youths and children can grow to become successful.
Achieving this success, he believes, portends great rewards for the society that such a child grows up in.
He disclosed this during the organisation’s annual general meeting held at Peace Hotel, Ilorin with the theme “Empowering Futures, Renewing Hopes.”
The event brought together key stakeholders, supporters, and beneficiaries to celebrate the organisation’s significant strides in education and empowerment.
The AGM was attended by Mrs Olawale Hidaayat Alaya from the Office of Teachers Development, Ministry of Education, Kwara State; Mr Abdulazeez from the Ministry of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Kwara State as well as beneficiaries of the organisation’s scholarship programme and their relatives.
Founded with the mission to make education accessible to underprivileged children, Yattiyr has spent the past five years creating pathways for academic and personal growth of young Nigerians.
“That one child is the very essence of our gathering. That one child is the sole purpose we exist as an organisation.
“That one child is among the 18 million out-of-school children in Nigeria. That one child shares stories similar to some of ours here, mine especially.
“That one child is Amina whose hope to access education was zero but today through our joint effort, she’s been sponsored through basic education. And now she has hopes for university education
“That one child represents the 135 children benefiting from our tuition scholarship. And that one child are the 5 undergraduates being sponsored by us in a bid to increase access to quality education.
“That one child, no matter the challenges they face, can thrive and succeed when empowered with quality education,” Fatoye said in his address.
Financial secretary of the initiative, Miss Halima Adeyeye, disclosed that they raised over N2.9 million in 2024 from donations, fundraising rallies, membership dues, and sponsorships, adding that a larger percentage of the fund was spent on school and WAEC fees, entrance fees, and other outreach programmes.
The organisation said it increased the number of her beneficiaries from 100 to 135 in 2024 with many of them sponsored in private schools, adding that the number of secondary school leavers under the initiative grew to 30 during the period under review.
At the event, the Tertiary Education Scholarship Scheme (TESS) was officially launched as a representation of Yattiyr’s next chapter which is to provide financial support and opportunities for underprivileged students to pursue higher education. It was also revealed that five undergraduate students have been selected as pioneer beneficiaries.
“Leading the Way: A Leadership Guide for Teens,” which was crafted to inspire teenagers to embrace leadership, was also launched at the event. The organisation revealed that the book offers relatable stories, practical advice, and motivational insights, helping young readers develop essential skills and confidence to lead in their communities and beyond.
The initiative also hopes to expand to Lagos in 2025 to complement existing branches in Ilorin, Ogbomoso, and KWASU Malete. The expansion is aimed at supporting underprivileged children and teens living under bridges.
The AGM also celebrated and awarded members and teams across the organisation for their outstanding contributions:
The personal assistant to the Senior Special Adviser on SDGs to the Kwara State Governor promised to advocate for grants to support the initiative’s expansion just as the representative of the commissioner for education expressed admiration for Yattiyr’s impact, pledging support and facilitating future collaborations. A videographer at the event also pledged to donate N600,000 for Yattiyr in 2025.
One of the parents in attendance said: “Since they started helping Gold, she hasn’t been sent home because of school fees.”
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then