WACOT Rehabilitates Community School, Donates Materials in Katsina

Ibrahim Shuaibu

In its support for community development, WACOT Ltd, an agricultural input company has rehabilitated six classrooms and donated furniture and instructional materials to Mairuwa Community School in Katsina state. Speaking at the recent unveiling of three blocks of classrooms, Head, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) Division – TGI Group, Nigeria, Mr. Anuj Bhatia, said the current school renovation project is another step towards supporting the farming communities. Bhatia said WACOT has been supporting different social and economic initiatives for its farmers whom he described as “partners in progress”.He shared that WACOT’s CR&S division has done partnerships with different international agencies and are doing different projects to include health awareness camps, self-help group formation and capacity building, wash bore, women empowerment, health facility renovation etc. for its farming communities. He added that the company is doing such initiatives in other states that included Kebbi, FCT and Kaduna. He expressed optimism that the renovation project would surely benefit students and brighten their lives to remember WACOT in the future. The Principal Alhaji Ado Atiku, said the school benefited with vital contributions of WACOT and commended the company on the initiative; adding that such a contribution would go a long way for the communities and the children coming to the school to study. He however, urged WACOT and other companies to extend more support to make the school a better place to study and learn. The General Manager, Mr. Subirkumar Dey, restated the company’s commitment to partner Katsina state government on enhancing peoples’ wellbeing on areas like health, education and agriculture. Dey said WACOT is empowering the farming communities on best agronomic practices through field training on demonstration farms. He said the company’s other contributions to society included 10 wash bores drilled and given to farmers, and also on educating farmers on how to go for irrigation farming. The GM said the Mairuwa community school renovation was a step towards more educational support by WACOT, adding that the project comprised general building renovations with new boards, student furniture, educational inscriptions and printing of exercise books for students. The Permanent Secretary, Katsina state Ministry of Education, Alhaji Sagir Ibrahim, reiterated government’s commitment on continued partnership with WACOT on its public support initiatives to Katsina rural communities. Ibrahim, who represented by Zonal Director of Education, Alhaji Surajo Salisu, urged other profit-making institutions to emulate WACOT and enjoined the school authority to safeguard the buildings and ensure judicious use of the items on improving the standard of education. In his goodwill message, the TGI Head of Farming and Plantations, West Africa, Mr. Reji George said the group is partnering the rural farming communities as the base for its sustainable corporate responsibility initiatives.