By Abdul-mumin Abdul-Qadir
Navigating the current economic challenges with pragmatic approaches was the focus of an economic empowerment programme organised by Main Earnest Global Resources recently in Ayobo area of Lagos state.
The programme, organised in partnership with Earnest Educational Services and Schools, was a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at giving back to the society and liberating the populace from the economic hardship in the country.
It was a two-in-one package as the event also served as the Annual Parents’ Forum of the Earnest Schools.
The programme, held at Earnest Schools, Ayobo, had parents of Earnest Schools, staff of Earnest, and members of the general public in attendance.
The theme for this year’s event “Navigating Economic Challenges; Pragmatic Approach,” according to, a management member of the Earnest Schools, Mrs. Zulaikha Ogunyomi, was informed by the economic dispensation in Nigeria.
“We realised that everyone is affected by the financial crises in the country. Even the rich are crying these days. Hence, we decided to empathise with the parents and help them solve their problem, so that everyone would be happy.
She expressed delight over the success of the programme and thanked everyone for joining both virtually and physically.
The Guest Speaker, Mr. Kazeem Lawal, x-rayed the current economic realities for everyone to see its deepening effects and the need to be proactive in remedying the situation.
He thanked Allah for seeing everyone through a series of tough situations.
“Alhamdulillah! We thank Allah because if not for faith in Him, many of us would not have been as we are today. Many of those who commit suicide don’t even experience 1/10 of the hardship, inconvenience, or trauma we undergo before terminating their own lives, but thanks to God. Everyone here is looking gorgeous and ravishing.”
He highlighted the causes of the hardship to include corruption and foreign policies, explaining that some of the policies and actions of the current administration are necessary to set things right.
“We have looked up to successive administrations for betterment, but things keep getting tougher. My experience during the last administration is still fresh in memory. Now, things are so hard that a common man who earns the minimum wage finds himself in a very tight situation. He has to feed his family, shelter them, and send his children to school, yet his income can’t even fulfil one of these needs.
“The removal of subsidy on petrol, naira devaluation, deeply rooted corruption and import dependency, among other reasons, are responsible for our current plight. It is, however, important to note that the policies put in place by the government are necessary to correct so many things that have gone wrong before now.”
Mr. Lawal charged everyone to maintain good relationship with the Almighty and explore as many streams of income as possible in order to augment their respective cash flows.
Another management member of Earnest Schools, Mrs. Shakirah Ogunyomi, was optimistic that the forum would birth good things like the previous ones, while advising participants to put the lessons learnt to practice.
“I believe if we make this the foundation of good things in our lives, it will give us the expected result. Some of us only need some push here and there, and we will be fine. My sincere appeal to everyone is that they should internalise and make whatever they’ve learnt here today influence their lives in positive ways.
Parents of Earnest Schools who attended the programme lauded the initiative and thanked the school for always having them in mind.
Mr. Munirudeen Atewogbade said: “This is not my first time of attending this programme, and it has always been impactful. I had to forgo a lot of things and prioritise it over many other commitments that I have today. I know I’ve gained a lot from previous editions. That’s why I was eager to be here today. I’ll implore the organisers to make subsequent ones more elaborate. More people need to benefit from it.”
Mrs. Balqees Adeshina said: “it will be untrue and unappreciative if I say I’ve not gained from previous editions. I’ve applied things I learnt and it has been very helpful to my family. It’s been good. May God continue to strengthen them.”
The event was held on Sunday November 24, 2024.
