The Nkosuohene (Development Chief) of the Zongo Community in the Ashanti Region, Alhaji Abdullai Ali Barry has pledged his unflinching commitment to help in the educational development of Zongo communities as part of efforts to improve the lives of young people.
He stressed that the surest way to develop the workforce of any country and improve the wellbeing of the society was education and efforts must be made to target young people who are always referred to as future leaders.
The Sarki Abdulai Ali Barry Foundation (SAAB) which he is a founder is thus collaborating with the Muslim Women in Teaching (MUSWIT) Ashanti Region to organize educational programs such as quiz competitions and debates to help young people harness education and acquire knowledge in Zongo communities across the region.
The maiden edition of the MUSWIT inter-community Mathematics and Science Quiz for Junior High School(JHS) level brought together young schoolchildren from communities across the regional capital.
It was aimed at exploring the intellectual knowledge gained through their educational journeys.
The competition which began some months ago was held in about three phases drawing competitors and winners from each phase through to the grand finale.
Four communities, Oforikrom, Tafo, Abirem, and Buobai made it to the grand finale of the contest where the Oforikrom community emerged as the winner.
The Tafo community came second while the Abirem and Buobai communities fell in the third and fourth positions respectively.
Speaking during the event, the organizers maintained that the event aimed to promote awareness in educating young people most especially young Muslim girls whose education is sometimes cut short due to forced or child marriage.
Alhaji Barry also shared similar sentiments and emphasized the need to develop the community through education.
He was convinced that it was imperative to use his philanthropic ideologies to collaborate with the women’s body to promote the agenda for a common goal.
Alhaji Barry through his SAAB foundation fully funded the Quiz competition and pledged to do more to create to support initiatives that are geared towards developing the educational needs of young people, especially the girl child.
The event was graced by traditional and religious leaders in the Zongo community