A member of the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC), Shukurat Temitope Ibrahim, shared her inspiring story linking to the inspiration behind her planned life-changing community development project in Gombe State.
Explaining the hardship story of growing up in a family that valued education despite numerous challenges, she expressed distress witnessing children trekking to school barefoot, struggling without essential learning materials, and facing obstacles that threatened to shatter their dreams before they even began.
In an exclusive interview on Campus Gist, Guts 104.9FM, Shukurat shared the inspiration behind her decision to embark on a transformative community development project.
She reminisced about her mother, who, despite lacking access to Western education, ensured that all her children received an education, and her older sister and her husband, who provided her with everything she needed for school.
Witnessing the harsh realities faced by children in Gombe, Shukurat knew she had to take action. However, she wanted to empower the community to take ownership of the project. “We’re not doing this for the people; we’re doing it with them,” she emphasized.
To ensure the project’s success, Shukurat met with the Emir of Bolari, who revealed that many of these children were orphans, from extremely poor homes, or had parents who didn’t prioritize education due to lack of awareness.
Rather than making assumptions, Shukurat engaged the community directly, holding stakeholders’ meetings with community leaders, teachers, and parents.
With the help of a teammate who spoke Hausa fluently, Shukurat communicated effectively with the parents, who welcomed the initiative and pledged their full support. She explained that teachers and community leaders would select the beneficiaries, as they knew the children best.
“This isn’t my project; it’s our project. When I leave at the end of my service, the impact will remain,” Shukurat said.
During the interview, Shukurat also discussed her appointment as Gombe State’s Girl Child Education Ambassador. She clarified that this project was separate from her ambassadorship and emphasized that it would benefit both boys and girls, ensuring no child was left behind.
The host, Bidemi Moses DaTalkative, commended Shukurat’s passion, stating that students, comrades, and fellow Corps members were proud of her efforts.
In her closing remarks, Shukurat expressed gratitude to Campus Gist for amplifying her voice and providing media support. She also called on well-meaning individuals, philanthropists, and organizations to join hands in making a lasting impact on the lives of these children.
Her story is a powerful reminder that change starts with a single step and a heart willing to act.
