NAPPS offers scholarships to released 32 minors

The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has announced its commitment to provide scholarships for the 32 minors recently released from detention.

These minors were part of the 76 defendants charged with treasonable felony after protests against economic hardship escalated into violence in various parts of Nigeria between August 1 and 10.

During a press conference held in Lagos on Tuesday, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Kundak, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for NAPPS, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the release of the minors.

He emphasized the critical importance of education in nurturing young minds and fostering national cohesion. Kundak stated that the scholarships would support the minors throughout their secondary education, preparing them for a brighter future and equipping them to contribute positively to society.

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He said, “On behalf of NAPPS members nationwide, we use this opportunity to appreciate the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the release of the detained 32 minors arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests. In response to that, the leadership of NAPPS Nigeria is prepared to grant the affected minors scholarships up to secondary school level.

“We also applaud the President on the newly released entrepreneurship curriculum for pupils in vasic schools. The need for skill acquisition for the development of Nigeria cannot be overemphasized.”

He stressed that the association would collaborate with relevant agencies to verify the details of the minors, saying it would help to determine their classes.

“We have tasked ourselves that depending on where they exist, if they are from Lagos, they will be given a place to study in Lagos. If there are people from Bauchi, some of them will have a place to study free of charge. This is something we are doing. We will liaise with the authorities concerned to give us the list of those people and confirm if they have not finished primary and secondary schools,” he said.

The association’s National President, Chief Abayomi Otubela, appreciated efforts of the new Board of Trustees approved by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), warning private schools’ owners operating below standard to desist.

“We expect a situation where excellence is our standard, where there is no room for mediocrity. We expect a situation where the respect for rule of law is paramount in our association, where a board of trustees will set an agenda and will be able to stand by it,” he said.