The Caring Heart Initiatives (CHI), the charity arm of the International Church of Christ (ICOC), on Tuesday led a major children-focused intervention in Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State, combining educational support with tuberculosis screening for public primary school pupils.
The programme, organised in collaboration with Shomolu Local Government, featured the donation of educational materials including school bags and books to pupils, alongside health checks and tuberculosis awareness and screening exercises conducted in partnership with the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria.
Themed equipping pupils with tools for learning, over 100 pupils from schools including St. Paul UNA Primary School, Somolu; St. Augustine Primary School, Somolu; Modupe Primary School, Somolu, and others participated in the initiative.
Speaking at the event, Elder Imagbe Igbinoba, Board Chairman of CHI, expressed appreciation to the Shomolu Local Government authorities for supporting the programme, describing the intervention as the beginning of a long-term partnership aimed at improving the lives of children.
“We are grateful for the warm reception from the local government and all the officials. We are happy to be here. This is the beginning of a fruitful partnership that will help children go far in life,” he said.
“We are here to support government in making education more accessible. A major focus for us is Early Childhood Development, particularly for children between the ages of zero and six years.”
According to him, studies have shown that by the age of five, nearly 90 per cent of a child’s brain development has taken place, stressing that deprivation through poor nutrition, inadequate care, lack of stimulation, or limited access to education could negatively affect children later in life.
“We are committed to making education more accessible across Lagos State through support and partnerships such as this,” he added.
Also speaking, Mrs Shakirat Ashimi, wife of the Chairman of Shomolu Local Government, commended CHI for the educational and healthcare intervention, describing the collaboration as impactful and timely.
“We are grateful to CHI for the two-in-one educational and health programmes today through donations of educational relief materials including bags and books, as well as health checks and enlightenment about tuberculosis through partnership with the Institute of Virology,” she said.
“I thank CHI for this partnership with Shomolu Local Government. Our partnership is commendable. Primary healthcare is important to us. We are committed to infrastructure and development in education. Our vision is to make Shomolu primary schools places for learning and excellence.”
Ashimi also urged parents and guardians to continue supporting and nurturing children, while encouraging collective efforts towards building a better future for children and the wider community.
She noted that the tuberculosis screening initiative was equally significant because healthy children are better positioned to excel academically, adding that early detection of diseases remains critical.
“Children should remain committed to their studies,” she advised.
Chairperson of the Fundraising Committee of CHI, Dr Mrs Funmi Aina, said the Back-to-School programme reflected the organisation’s commitment to restoring hope and creating opportunities for vulnerable children and families.
“At Caring Hearts, we believe that education is not only a basic right, but also a powerful tool for breaking cycles of poverty and creating long-term opportunities for children,” she said.
“This programme goes beyond providing school materials or immediate support; it is about restoring hope, promoting dignity, and creating an enabling environment for children to thrive.”
Aina stressed the importance of early childhood development, noting that children require strong foundations through nurturing care, educational support, and child-centred interventions to transition successfully into primary education.
She explained that CHI had continued to implement programmes focused on nutrition support, school fees assistance, child welfare, learning, and inclusion.
“We strongly believe that every investment made in a child today is an investment in a stronger and more productive society tomorrow,” she stated.
She further called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, philanthropists, and community stakeholders to ensure that vulnerable children are not left behind.
“At the heart of this programme is a simple but important objective: to ensure that no child is left behind, regardless of their background or circumstances,” she added.
Dignitaries at the event included Elder Imagbe Igbinoba, Board Chairman, CHI; Dr Mrs Funmi Aina, Chairperson, Fundraising Committee, CHI; Mrs Alice Amolo, Senior Programme Manager, CHI; Pastor Jide Ojo, Lead Evangelist, ICOC; Mrs Shakirat Ashimi, wife of the Chairman of Shomolu Local Government; as well as the Chief of Staff to the local government chairman, the council manager, and the Head of Education at the local government level.
