To further demonstrate international solidarity and commitment to sustainable development, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with South Korea International Cooperation Alumni in Nigeria (SKICAN) and SOS Children’s Village in Nigeria, successfully implemented the 2025 Annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) outreach at St. Jarlath Pilot Nursery and Primary School, Bukuru, Plateau State.
The initiative, themed ‘Empowering Young Lives Through Knowledge, Care, and Climate Action’, targeted over 170 pupils supported by the SOS Children’s Village, delivering critical educational support and promoting environmental sustainability.
The CSR outreach aligns with KOICA’s broader mission of promoting inclusive and equitable quality education (SDG 4) and climate action (SDG 13), and underscores the agency’s people-centered development approach that prioritizes the welfare of vulnerable communities, particularly children.
Delivering a keynote address at the event, KOICA Nigeria Country Director, Mr. Kim Eunsub, reiterated KOICA’s steadfast commitment to advancing basic education and child welfare in Nigeria.
He said: “Investing in education is one of the most sustainable pathways to securing a brighter future.”
Eunsub added that the children are full of potential, pointing out that KOICA’s role is to help nurture that potential.
According to the Country Director, the initiative goes beyond material support as it is “a celebration of shared values, a call to action, and a reaffirmation of our commitment to development cooperation.”
In his remarks, President of SKICAN, Barrister Joseph Oboh, emphasized the transformative power of education, noting that “no meaningful development can occur without education.”
He explained that education is the foundation upon which nations are built, urging young minds to remain focused and embrace the opportunities before them.
The well-attended outreach drew participation and commendation from key stakeholders including representatives from the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Jos South Local Government Education Authority, UNICEF, community-based organizations, and the national top hierarchy of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria.
In their various goodwill messages, they lauded the collaboration as a model for sustainable community engagement.
On their part, the benefitting pupils expressed joy and gratitude, promising to maximize use of the learning materials provided.
Highlight of the programme was the distribution of school bags,writing materials, textbooks and other learning resources to support the pupils’ academic pursuit.
There was also a tree planting activity to show commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable community development.
