Gede’s partnership with the United Cement Company Ltd (UNICEM) in Cross River State to support Orphans and Vulnerable Children in 10 rural communities started in 2013. Every year, the scholarship support programme is reviewed to add value to the services provided.

This year’s meeting aimed ataddressingissues that matter most in the secondary school scholarship programme such as achievements, performance, challenges, new ideas for effectiveness and a plan for 2016/2017 academic session.

The meeting had over 100 participants including School Principals, Teachers, Students, Community Trust Committee Members, Special Assistance to the Governor on Corporate Social Responsibility, Representative from the Ministry of Education, UNICEM and Gede’s Zonal Representative.

The Plant Manager, Mr. Therry Teriere in his speech welcomed all participants into the meeting and stressed the need for beneficiaries to take advantage of this support to lay foundations for a productive life.

A detailed presentation showing the performance index of students (covering academic sessions of 2014 and 2015), health outreach activities carried at community schools, challenges in the project and recommendations for project efficiency was presented by Gede Foundation. The meeting ended with a plan of action for 2016/2017 which included expanding the support package to cover community-youth-empowerment programmes, infrastructural support to community schools and more engagement with School Authorities for sustainability.