Makarios Initiative for Health and Humanitarian Development, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), says it is set to curb examination malpractice in schools.
Co-founder of the organisation, Mrs Lauretta Patrick-Nwachi, made this known on Thursday in Lagos, during the unveiling of a book, with the title: ”Kika’s Examination, A True Life Story”.
Patrick-Nwachi, who is the author of the book, said it was unveiled to commemorate the 2025 International Day of African Child (IDAC) and help curb examination malpractice among pupils and students, and the society at large.
She said the experience of her daughter witnessing examination malpractice during Common Entrance Exam, made her realised that there was the need to kick against such, hence, the birth of the book – Kika’s Examination.
“I realised that there is so much decadence in academia, and I knew that, yes, there is something I can do as a parent.
“So, for this particular day, we are trying to celebrate the children, to tell them they are special children everywhere. They don’t have to line up to tell us like they did in in Soweto in 1976, that there is poor quality education.
“If you visit the schools, especially the public schools, you will know that there is a lot we can do for our society to actually change this. Like I said, government has a lot they are doing. All I am doing is what I can do as an individual.
“There is so much decadence in academia, hence, there something we can do as a parent. The children are our future. We cannot wait for them to call on us, like the children did in Soweto.
“Why would there be exam malpractice in our school. This is corruption in our schools, and we can do something about it. I didn’t go to school this way. If I didn’t go to the school this way, I turned out the way I am. We will not allow our children to go to school this way,” the co-founder said.
Also speaking, Dr Patrick Nwachi, the Co-Founder of Makarios Initiative for Health and Humanitarian Development, emphasised the resilience and academic excellence of the African child, urging the community to take children seriously.
Nwachi said the theme for the 2025 IDAC:”Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress Since 2010”, encouraged parents to plan for their children’s education.
“So, we are encouraging children that they can do without examination malpractice, because such affect the child’s psychology, and it makes their future to be dull,” he said.
According to him, the book aims to teach children about the importance of moral resilience and academic excellence, and to combat examination malpractice.
Giving the keynote address, the Founder of Coscharis Group, Dr Cosmas Maduka, encouraged young people to be interested in education and to widen their horizons.
Maduka urged the younger generation to see life itself as a school and focus on attitude and self-improvement that would add meaning to livelihood.
“So, this is the time to determine where did you want to see yourself. Visualise yourself 10 years to come, 20 years to come? What plans do you have for it? How intentional are you towards those goals?
“I stand here to testify to you that there is no goal that is too extreme, there is no mountain that is too high, there is no dream that is unachievable. It all depends on your determination and your willingness to succeed,” he said.
