As part of its contributions to improving education and empowerment of youths, the Pyramid Educational Advancement (PEA) Foundation, an NGO, says that over 5000 teenagers are targeted to benefit from its annual career mentoring and life skills seminar in 2019.
Mr Adedapo Conde, Executive Director of the foundation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that the teenagers live in five different locations in Lagos State.
Conde said the foundation is also planning to expand its reach to the Ikorodu, Badagry, Lagos Island, Mainland and Epe axis in subsequent editions of its career mentoring seminar, next year.
“Over the years, we have developed a great model of engaging and empowering young people within the Alagbado area of Lagos, which is our primary target area.
“However, ahead of 2019, it is our desire and plan that young people from other communities in Lagos state experience this youth engagement and empowerment model that we have perfected.
“In each location we are spanning to, we intend to engage at least 1000 young people, thus 5000 in total,’’ he said.
Conde said the foundation was considering scheduling the programme for May, instead of its usual August timing.
According to him, to promote a reading culture in Nigeria, the foundation plans to setup at least three libraries and one hybrid library called the PEA HUB, in addition to the already existing ones established by the foundation.
He told NAN that one of the libraries would be established in a public school and the other two will be set up in the local government as community libraries.
“We are already working with some partners and organisations but also seeking more support through various avenues, including a fundraising event.
“Our partners already have specific areas in mind where the libraries will be located.
“One of the libraries will be in Ogun state and the other two and the PEA HUB will be in Lagos,’’ he told NAN.
NAN reports that the PEA Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Lagos, with a mission to encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.
The Foundation started in 2009 by organising a quiz and debate competition in its immediate community, Ijaye Ojokoro, a suburb around the Alagbado area of Lagos.
The beneficiaries of the programme which is meant to create an interface between professionals in various sectors and the teenagers, are the less privileged children concentrated in under-served communities within the state.
Such interface is to help the students to get more information about the careers they are interested in, and expose them to accomplished individuals who can inspire them.
The idea of the foundation is borne out of the challenge of a lot of young people losing motivation in pursuing academic excellence, as it was in the past.
