TIME TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL CHIEF IMAM'S EDUCATIONAL FUND

Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam of Ghana.

The future of every nation depends on how serious the government of today prioritizes the education of its children who are the future leaders of the nation. Education and development of the “Specially Disadvantage Group”(SDG), such as the under-privileged, homeless and poor children, by the emerging and developing nations hold the key to the progress of the nation in healthcare, poverty, unemployment and the population control. Unfortunately, education is not for free in most developing countries. Children are required to pay for tuition, desk fee, uniforms, books exams, graduation and other ceremonies. About 75% to 80% of school-going children fall within the SDG and they come from the marginalized communities and cannot afford the ever-increasing cost of education. What then happens to this bright future generation, who will be the backbone of the economy?

In March 2009, the National Chief Imam, Dr. Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu launched an educational fund in Accra dubbed the “Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu Education Trust Fund” (SONSETFund). This educational Fund was setup to complement the effort of the government and parents in improving the literacy rate of the future leaders irrespective of religion, ethnicity, tribe and gender. Earlier this week, the National Chief Imam arrived in New York to launch SONSETFund in North America. Briefing the Ghanaian Community on his arrival, Dr. Sheikh Sharubutu said he could not have climaxed his vision of producing highly educated world class youth, visionary leaders, and entrepreneurs for the 21st century better than setting up an educational trust fund to support the deprived, marginalized communities and the homeless. Amongst the Board of Directors are Rev. Emmanuel Perigrino and Showumi A. Williams.

Reiterating the aims and objectives of SONSETFund, the Chief Imam's spokesman Alhaji Mamah Gado Mohammed listed improving the level of educational standard in deprived and marginalized communities in Ghana, provide financial assistance to the needy youth in Ghana for credible courses of study within the limit of resources available to the trust fund, help establish educational institutions/facilities in deprived and marginalized communities, provide free counseling to students and unemployed youth on education and employment and provide assistance to remedial student who cannot afford remedial tuition.

Long before his appointment as the substantive National Chief Imam, Dr. Sheikh Sharubutu has unilaterally sponsored the education of hundreds of children who cherished formal education but cannot afford it, because he has always believe that investing in education is the greatest asset and investment one can make to help his country. This insatiable desire led to the establishment of seven educational institutions marginalized communities such as Sukura, Fadama, Darkuman, Kwashieman, etc, in Greater Accra. He has also established ten more educational institutions in other regions and presently financing a multi-million dollar educational complex at Kasoa, in Central Region. Having single handedly come this far, now is the time to get on aboard and help improve educational level in those marginalized communities.

We are nation full of talkers, and when we talk, we talk BIG. But this is not the time to talk, but to ACT, and it is only the active doers who can help move our nation forward positively by donating to this educational trust fund. All enquires and donation can be directed to:

SONSETFund
P O Box NBT 973
Nii Boiman, Accra-Ghana
Tel. 233-21-226465/233-244-982054/233-249-826093
Email. [email protected]
Website. www.sheikhusman.com

Muhammed Suraj Sulley Jawando
NY Presbyterian Hospital, New York.
[email protected]

Development / Ghana / Africa / modernghana.com