DABOYA, NORTH GONJA — Philanthropist and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate aspirant for the Daboya-Mankarigu Constituency, Alhaji Arimiyaw Abubakari, has supported more than 90 brilliant but needy Junior High School (JHS) graduates in the North Gonja District with educational materials to facilitate their transition to Senior High School (SHS).

The beneficiaries, selected from JHSs across the district, received the items at a ceremony held at the forecourt of Tarbiat School in Daboya.

The intervention forms part of what organisers described as Alhaji Arimiyaw's broader commitment to supporting education and reducing financial barriers that prevent children from disadvantaged backgrounds from pursuing their education.

Each beneficiary received a package comprising a student mattress, a durable chop box, 10 exercise books and a mathematical set.

According to the organisers, five of the best-performing students from each JHS in the district were selected for the first phase of the initiative, with plans to extend the support to additional students in subsequent phases.

Addressing the gathering, Alhaji Arimiyaw said his motivation for supporting the students was rooted in his personal experiences and his conviction that education provides an opportunity for people from different socioeconomic backgrounds to improve their circumstances.

“I know what it means to lack. I know how it feels for a brilliant child to stay at home because his parents cannot afford a mattress or a chop box. That child loses confidence before he even gets to school.”

He said the intervention was intended not only to provide material assistance but also to give beneficiaries the confidence and peace of mind needed to concentrate on their studies.

“My aim is not just to give you items. My aim is to improve your performance, to give you peace of mind in school, and to help you build a better future for yourselves, for your families and for Daboya-Mankarigu as a whole.”

He urged the students to take their education seriously, remain disciplined and remember their communities when they eventually achieve their career ambitions.

Alhaji Arimiyaw further outlined plans to establish a Constituency Education Support Fund, a scholarship scheme targeting girls pursuing science and technical programmes, and an annual Best Teacher Award to recognise and motivate teachers, particularly those working in rural communities.

He said his long-term vision was to contribute to improving educational outcomes across the constituency.

Alhaji Arimiyaw, who is seeking the NPP's parliamentary nomination for the constituency, also said he hoped to expand his educational interventions if given the opportunity to represent the constituency in Parliament.

The North Gonja District Director of Education, Mr Kofi Odum Apatse, who attended the ceremony, commended the initiative and acknowledged the role of community and private-sector support in complementing government efforts in education.

He said interventions of this nature could help ease some of the financial pressures faced by families and contribute to school enrolment and retention, particularly among children from deprived communities.

“When you invest in a child, you have invested in the entire district,” he said, while encouraging other individuals and organisations to support education in the district.

The Daboya-Mankarigu Constituency Chairman of the NPP, Mr Dramani Tahidu, who chaired the event, described Alhaji Arimiyaw as a supporter of the party's grassroots activities.

He used the occasion to call for unity among party members and aspirants ahead of the party's internal processes and the 2028 general election.

He said the party would need to work collectively to strengthen its position in the constituency.

Parents and students express gratitude

Some parents and beneficiary students expressed appreciation for the support, saying the items would ease the financial burden associated with preparing their children for SHS.

A parent from Mankarigu said the donation had come at a time when the family was struggling to provide the basic items needed for the child's transition to SHS.

One of the beneficiaries, Atchulo Musah Fareeda of Daboya Girls JHS, expressed determination to make good use of the opportunity.

“I will study hard. I want to become a nurse and come back to help my community,” she said.

The ceremony brought together teachers, parents, students, traditional representatives, youth groups and NPP executives from across the constituency.

The organisers said the initiative would continue in subsequent phases as part of efforts to support more students in the Daboya-Mankarigu Constituency.

Report By: Saeed Kagbal