The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has renovated two blocks of classrooms of the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, Tukuruwa village, Kwali Area Council, Federal Capital Territory.

The association also supported the school with learning materials such as 200 chairs, 800 exercise books and 200 school bags.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Kwali, PENGASSAN president, Festus Osifo, said the project was part of the association’s deliberate effort to impact rural communities and invest in the education of children.

The intervention was carried out through the PENGASSAN Foundation and officially handed over on Tuesday to the school.

The renovated school and items were presented to the pupils and teachers in the presence of the chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya, and the chief of Tukuruwa village, HRH Luka Nissan III.

Mr Osifo, who described children as leaders of tomorrow, said, “On behalf of our National Executive Council, we are delighted to be here today to hand over this project.

“PENGASSAN Foundation was unveiled only about 24 months ago, but within this short period, we have carried out several interventions across the country,” Mr Osifo said.

According to him, the foundation has assisted indigent patients in general hospitals with medical bills, supported rural communities in Benue and other states, and now turned its attention to education in Kwali.

He stressed that empowering children with a conducive learning environment and basic material was one of the most significant investments the union could make in the country’s future.

“These children you see here today are future senators, presidents, governors and council chairmen. Training them in the right environment is a responsibility we take seriously,” he added.

Mr Osifo assured the community that PENGASSAN Foundation would sustain its presence in Kwali by identifying further areas of need for intervention.

Receiving the project, the chief of Tukuruwa village, HRH Luka Nissan III, commended PENGASSAN for responding swiftly to the school’s needs.

“Our hearts are filled with joy because this project has brought hope to this agrarian community. The children now have chairs, books and bags, which will make learning easier,” Mr Nissan said.

He appealed for the fencing of the school to address security challenges, adding that theft and vandalism had been recurring problems.

On his part, the chairman of the Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya, expressed appreciation to the association for its intervention in the education sector of the council.

Mr Chiya, who promised to grade the road leading to the school by November to ease access, said PENGASSAN’s gesture had rekindled the council’s commitment to supporting rural education.

“I am overwhelmed with joy to see that PENGASSAN has remembered Kwali. This intervention is timely and will go a long way in improving the lives of our children,” the chairman said.

A pupil of the school, Patient Dogara, also thanked the association, saying the donation of exercise books would relieve her parents of some financial burden.

The project is one of several humanitarian initiatives embarked upon by the PENGASSAN Foundation since its establishment in 2023.

(NAN)