In a brightly lit classroom at Estate Primary School, Mushin, little hands clutched newly given exercise books as wide eyes gleamed with excitement. Around them, volunteers in reflector bibs and branded shirts helped open pencil cases and arrange writing materials on small wooden desks. At the centre of it all stood Mrs. Helen Egbe, Executive Director of Cakasa Ebenezer Foundation (CEF), her face beaming with quiet satisfaction.
For the pupils, it was more than a gift; it was a reminder that someone cared.
A Season of Giving
Between September 25 and October 3, 2025, CEF concluded Phase 6 of its Kit A Child education-support programme across Mushin and Surulere Local Government Areas. The initiative, launched a few years ago, seeks to reduce the burden on parents by providing children in underserved public schools with the basic tools they need to learn—exercise books, pencils, pens, and pencil cases.
This phase covered eight schools: New City, Palm Avenue, Oduduwa, Estate, Papa Ajao, Alaba, Central, and Local Authority Primary Schools. Each day, volunteers departed from the Foundation’s Ilupeju office at 9 a.m., armed with cartons of school kits and hearts full of purpose.
The last batch, delayed briefly by the Independence Day holiday, took place on October 3 at Local Authority Primary School, Orile-Iganmu, which shares a compound with Central Primary School—a chance encounter that doubled the joy.
“We are deeply grateful to our volunteers whose passion and commitment drive our vision of giving every child the opportunity to learn and thrive,” Mrs. Egbe said. “Through Kit A Child, we reaffirm that education remains the most powerful weapon to change lives and communities.”
“We are deeply grateful to Mr. Barnabas Olise, MD/CEO, Cakasa Nig. Company Ltd., and the board and management team, for their immense support for CEF’s programmes,” she added.
Joy That Ripples Beyond the Classroom
The gratitude was immediate and heartfelt. Teachers and headteachers who watched their pupils unwrap the materials could not hold back emotion.
At New City Primary School, Head Teacher Adeyemi Felix Olalede wrote in his letter of appreciation:
“Your donation has in no small measure contributed to the growth and development of our pupils’ education and also served as a source of financial relief to parents. My prayer to Aunty Helen and the entire team is that the favour of God will not depart from you.”
From Papa Ajao Primary School, Mrs. Alice Ajibade expressed it simply but powerfully:
“CAKASA!!!!!!!!! We say a big thank you for the writing materials presented to our pupils to change and shape their lives. The Foundation shall excel always.”
And in a moving message from Mushin LGEA, School Support/Health Desk Officer, Mrs. Omolara Ogunshola, called Mrs. Egbe ‘a mother of thousands of children and still counting.’
“Words alone cannot express how grateful we are,” she wrote. “We pray for more increase and achievements for your company in Jesus’ name. #GodBlessCEF #GodBlessCNC #GodBlessMrsHelenEgbe.”
At Local Authority Primary School, Orile-Iganmu, Mr. Kehinde Sulaiman, the Head Teacher, added his voice:
“Your Foundation will continue to grow from strength to strength in God’s mighty name. Many thanks and God bless you.”
More Than Materials
Behind the stacks of notebooks and pencils lies a deeper story—the quiet dignity that comes from giving children tools to dream. For many families, especially in Mushin’s dense urban sprawl, buying stationery for multiple children is a real struggle. When a child receives a school kit, it lightens a family’s load and brightens a future.
CEF’s volunteers see this transformation firsthand. “When you watch a child’s face light up at something as small as a new pencil, you realise how much hope costs—and how little it takes to make a difference,” one volunteer said.
Sustaining the Vision
The Kit A Child programme has now reached thousands of pupils across Lagos and neighbouring states. It remains one of the most visible expressions of the partnership between Cakasa Nig. Company Limited and its CSR arm, Cakasa Ebenezer Foundation.
Every new phase brings not just materials, but mentorship, motivation, and a tangible reminder that education is still a shared community responsibility.
As the pupils of Estate Primary School wave their new exercise books and chant “Thank you, Cakasa!”, it is clear that the message has taken root: giving children a fair start in life is the most powerful investment in the future.
