L-R: Favour Ihechimere, Modupe Ujadughele and Pero Giwa (all of Zenith General Insurance Limited); a student of Alimosho Junior Grammar School; Mrs Maria Ojo, Director of Schools’ Administration, Education District I; a student of State Senior College, Alimosho; Dolapo Talabi of Zenith General Insurance Limited; Ozioma Okenyeka, School Counsellor, Alimosho Senior Grammar School; Promise Okonkwo, Gbemisola Adesanmi, Marshall Nwoke and Vincent Ogunkorode (all of Zenith General Insurance Limited), during the company’s presentation of back-to-school items to selected schools in Lagos State recently.
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—For many Lagos parents, the start of a new school session brings a familiar worry: how to cover school bags, exercise books and mathematical sets when even putting food on the table is a daily struggle.
This season, that pressure eased a little for families in six public schools, as Zenith General Insurance Limited stepped in with the supplies their children needed to begin the term prepared, and with a message that where they come from should never limit how far they go.
The initiative, implemented under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, seeks to ease the financial burden on parents, improve students’ access to essential learning materials and promote inclusive education, particularly among children in public schools.
Speaking during the presentation, Mrs. Dolapo Olatayo Talabi, General Manager at Zenith General Insurance Limited, challenged students to recognise their present academic experiences as the foundation for future achievements. Addressing students at Alimosho Junior Grammar School, Talabi engaged them in an interactive session around the theme, “Prepared for Success,” encouraging them to develop habits that would position them to take advantage of opportunities. She described the classroom, textbooks, assignments and everyday choices students make as essential parts of their preparation for the future.
Talabi identified purpose, preparation and persistence as three essential ingredients for success.
“Success is not an accident. Success is what happens when preparation meets opportunity,” she said. She also cautioned against allowing their age or the location of their schools to limit their aspirations, stressing that greatness depends on preparation rather than geography. Describing the students as potential game-changers of today, rather than merely leaders of tomorrow, she encouraged them to commit themselves to academic excellence and personal development.
Explaining the rationale behind the donation, Hashim Okunbor, Head of Corporate Communications at Zenith General Insurance Limited, said the company regarded children as the foundation of the nation’s future and considered investment in education essential to sustainable community development.
According to him, the back-to-school initiative was designed to provide practical assistance to families facing the financial pressures associated with the beginning of a new academic session. “As a company, we believe strongly that children are the future. The Back-to-School Initiative allows us to maximise long-term social impact and build multigenerational brand loyalty. But more importantly, we know that the new school session comes with some financial pressure on parents, hence our decision to help in our own little way,” he said.
Okunbor explained that the beneficiary schools were selected in consultation with the relevant local government school district to ensure the intervention reached students across different communities.He expressed hope that the donated materials would support students’ academic activities and encourage them to pursue their ambitions.
“We hope that these items serve them well and encourage them to dream big,” he said.
He added that the initiative formed part of the insurer’s broader commitment to education and community development, recalling that the company supported a school library project in 2024.According to him, Zenith General Insurance conducts annual assessments to identify areas where its resources and expertise can deliver meaningful social impact.
He noted that the programme also demonstrated the human side of insurance by showing how businesses could support vulnerable communities, address practical challenges and contribute to restoring hope.
Responding on behalf of the six beneficiary schools, the Principal of Alimosho Junior Grammar School, Mrs Ige Adekunle Mary, commended Zenith General Insurance for the donation, describing it as timely and beneficial to students, parents and the wider school community. She observed that many parents struggled to provide basic necessities, including food, making it difficult to meet additional expenses for school bags, exercise books and other learning materials.
Mary said the intervention would provide financial relief to families while helping to reduce disparities between students from different economic backgrounds. She added that access to appropriate educational materials was essential for effective classroom participation, consistent learning and improved understanding of school subjects.
The principal called on other private-sector organisations to support public schools, describing them as critical platforms for grassroots development and national transformation.
“I wish to appreciate Zenith General Insurance and other private organisations and encourage them to see public schools as a rich field for grassroots nation-building,” she said. She also advocated increased investment in educational infrastructure and extracurricular activities to improve students’ learning experiences and promote their overall development.
The donation underscores the potential of corporate social responsibility programmes to complement government efforts to improve access to education in Nigeria.
For Zenith General Insurance, the initiative combines material support for students with a broader message: preparing young people for success requires access to learning resources, encouragement and the determination to make the most of available opportunities.
