The Rotary Club of Rock City, has on Wednesday launched the Interact Club at First Golden Grace International School, Oluwo, Abeokuta.
President of the club Rtn (Engr) Gbolagoke Oluleke Adebiyi noted that the goal is to train, foster leadership qualities in children and help develop a feeling of responsibility in society.
He stressed that in order to produce effective future leaders, children should be raised with the values of service over self and leadership development from an early age.
“Actually, today’s program is for us to groom and foster the leadership attitude in the children and also to groom them to acquire the sense of responsibility in the society.
“We are trying to build this children so that they can have the mindset of helping others including the less privileged. The same thing goes to the federal government, if they are able to cater for some children I believe those people (children) will also learn the spirit of leadership, responsibility and be good citizen to also help other less privileged.
“lf you want to be a good leader and actually want to contribute to the society you need to start to learn the leadership skills from now because whatever you become in the future has to start from now.
Rtn Adebiyi also urged President Bola Tinubu to look into the raising numbers of out of school children and provide free education to encourage the less privileged who believe they cannot attain success without attending school.
The club’s president-elect, Rtn. Henry Olasupo Adedokun, emphasized the importance of teaching young ones about humanity adding that it is their duty to assist and support the government.
“Our position is constantly to see and help with whatever the government is doing. We run projects depends on what we are given as assignment from the Rotary international and district and the mindset is that no children should be left out of school, every child must be educated through formal education.
“The government should come up with policies that will make it easy for every child to be in school, talking about financial support and capability for parents to be able to send their wards to school and policies that can help children to have if not complete free education then a good percentage of reduction so that they can afford it.
Meanwhile, the school principal, Mrs Salami Olawunmi, commended the club for the initiative and expressed confidence that it will have a significant impact on her students.
“I believe that the club will help them to become better people, better children , they would be alive to their responsibilities and their immediate community at large. I would expect that it also changed their orientation about leadership and service. So I want to expect that it will impact to them positively.
“I want to say thank you for this initiative we are really excited about this and we are sure that this collaboration will impact our school positively.
Also, Salami Mariam the Head girl appreciated the club for selecting her school.
“It was nice, educative and also enlightening to all students. For our school to start the club it is a very good step taken and I hope it is effective and fills the objective of the club.
Others present includes Rotarian Babatunde Aremu Monday, Rtn Modupeore Ajayi, Rtn Sanwo Adeyemi , Rtn Moses Oliyide among others.