The Rotary Foundation, in collaboration with Rotary International District 9127 and Rotary International District 3204, has donated 350 desks to five government secondary schools in Kaduna State under the “Dust to Desk Project.”
The humanitarian initiative was initiated by the Rotary Club of Barnawa Kaduna, Rotary Club of Kaduna Metropolitan and Rotary Club of Kawo Kaduna, with support from the Rotary Foundation through a Global Grant Project (Grant No. GG2578109, 2024–2025). As part of the project, the clubs also renovated blocks of classrooms in the benefiting schools to improve the learning environment for students.
The commissioning of the desks took place on Thursday, March 12, 2026, and was led by the Immediate Past District Governor of District 9127, Rotarian Mike Ukachi Nwanoshiri.
At the first stop, Government Girls Secondary School, Narayi in Chikun Local Government Area, Nwanoshiri told students and staff that the desks were permanently donated to the school and should be properly maintained.
He expressed concerns over situations where students were forced to sit and write on the floor.
“When we visit schools and see our children writing on the floor, we are not happy. These desks now belong to the school. Please ensure they are well maintained,” he said.
He also advised students to report anyone found mishandling the desks to their teachers or school prefects.
Responding on behalf of the school, the Principal of the Senior Secondary section, Mrs. Esther David Barnabas, said the donation would greatly improve learning conditions. She recalled that when she resumed at the school, many students had no desks and were sitting on the floor.
She expressed deep appreciation to Rotary and prayed for God’s blessings upon the organization, assuring that the desks would be properly maintained.
A total of 70 desks were handed over to the school.
At Government Secondary School, Sabon Tasha in Chikun Local Government Area, Nwanoshiri encouraged the students to take proper care of the desks so that future students could also benefit from them.
He explained that Rotary is a non-governmental organization focused on humanitarian service and community development.
He also noted that during his tenure as District Governor, efforts were made to ensure that each state within the district benefited from impactful Rotary projects.
In her remarks, the school’s principal, Esther Asabe Zakari, speaking on behalf of the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, expressed appreciation to Rotary for the intervention.
“This is what we have been looking for. You have improved academic excellence through this gesture,” she said.
She added that the lack of desks had been a major concern for the school administration.
“This problem gave us sleepless nights. We wrote to politicians and other stakeholders but help did not come. Today Rotary has come to our aid.”
She further expressed optimism that with improved facilities, student enrollment would increase in the next academic session.
She also appealed to Rotary to extend similar interventions to other sectors such as health.
Another 70 desks were presented to the school.
Other benefitting schools where similar commissioning ceremonies were held same day, include, Government Secondary School, Kakuri in Kaduna South Local Government Area, Government Girls Secondary School, Doka in Kaduna North Local Government Area, and Government Girls Secondary School, Barnawa in Kaduna South Local Government Area.
The principals of the schools are Cecilia Kozah of Government Secondary School Kakuri, Hajia Salama Yahaya of Government Girls Secondary School Doka, and Esther David Barnabas of Government Girls Secondary School Barnawa.
Each of the five schools received 70 desks, bringing the total number of desks distributed to 350.
The Dust to Desk Project highlights Rotary’s continued commitment to supporting education and improving learning conditions for students in public schools across Kaduna State.