By Tony Adibe
The Abuja-based SIX J FOUNDATION in collaboration with JOFMAK & SIX JS RESTAURANT, on Wednesday, celebrated children from fifteen schools in the remote area of Amokwu Affa Autonomous Community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
NewsBits reports that, unlike last year’s event, during when SIX J Foundation gathered students and pupils from less than ten different schools in the rural area, the 2026 edition of Children’s Day, which was held at the Community Secondary School Amokwu Affa, attracted a large number of students and pupils from 15 different schools in various communities within the Nkoyi Affa, Inoyi Affa, and Amokwu Affa areas in Udi LGA of the State.
It was learnt that the objective of the gathering was to celebrate the children in the locality in commemoration of the International Children’s Day held worldwide on May 27 every year. The primary aim of the Children’s Day is to promote or project the welfare, safety, and fundamental rights of children globally while fostering international togetherness and mutual understanding among young people worldwide.
However, the SIX J Foundation and its partners realized that while there is wide excitement and jubilation among children in the urban centres in the state, those domiciled in the rural areas are like ‘forgotten children’ as they hardly get involved in meaningful engagements during the annual celebration, making them “dormant’’. It is in order to correct such an anomaly that the SIX J Foundation decided to intervene in giving children in rural areas a sense of belonging.
“The aim of coming here is to enable the children in the rural areas to enjoy some of those things their counterparts in the city enjoy during the May Day celebration, which is dedicated to children worldwide,” said one of the SIX J Foundation’s Volunteers, Mr. Anthony Sunday Nwabueze, who briefed newsmen at the venue. He added: “We want the children in the rural areas to replicate in their locality whatever their colleagues are performing at Okpara Square in Enugu city.”
Nwabueze said that specifically, nine primary schools and six secondary schools – meaning a total of 15 schools participated in the event, “excluding the nursery schools, even though they are also here.”
The Volunteer said that the Non-Governmental Organisation has been celebrating children in the rural areas annually for the past three years, stressing that it would move the venue from one school to another in future events.
“We did not choose this school as a venue, but they decided to come to this school. However, next year, we will move the venue to another school. We will rotate it. There will be a time we will even go to the urban areas and celebrate with the children there as well,” he said.
Nwabueze also spoke briefly on the philosophy guiding the SIX J Foundation. According to him, the organization has as its agenda the good health and quality of life of humans. He said: “The organization doesn’t encourage discrimination, inequality, and its aim is to bring up the younger ones to become good citizens. The organization also helps the old, the sick, and the widows in our society by assisting them with palliatives and other relief materials during festive periods such as Christmas and New Year.”
NewsBits reports that the children were thrilled with music, games, and sporting activities such as sack race, egg race, march pass, 100 meters race, and relay race, drawing competition, among others. Meanwhile, some of the schools that participated in the event included LawPhem International School, Bright Academy Nkoyi Affa, Community Primary School, Amanchalla Amokwu Affa, Peace International School, Amokwu Affa, Community Primary School, Inoyi Affa, Divine Grace Primary School, Amokwu Affa, and others.
The event featured sensitization talks on the deadly implications of drug abuse and why children should avoid drug abuse by all means possible. There were also talks on career choice and the importance of imbibing the culture of humility, focus, loyalty, steadfastness, calmness, and other good qualities that help in molding one’s character. “When you lack good listening ability, calmness and self-control, respect for people, focus, you are on your way to becoming vulnerable to drug abuse,” Nwabueze told the students. The children were presented with educational materials by the NGO at the end of the event.
However, commenting on the ceremony, a female teacher at Community Secondary School Amokwu Affa, who pleaded anonymity, told NEWSBITS: “During last year, 2025 event, the students/pupils that made it to the first, second and third positions in the competitions, had their school fees paid by the organizers of the event – that is the SIX J Foundation. But I must observe that this year’s event doesn’t seem as well-organized as the 2025 event. I have already told the representative of the NGO about my sincere observation. When the man who was contracted to mount the canopy couldn’t come early to fix the canopy, it shows that something is not right. All the same, we quite appreciate the commitment and interest SIX J Foundation has in celebrating children in our remote communities.”
