THE ROCHAS OKOROCHA FOUNDATION
We can boldly say that now, more than ever, the population of children and youths has risen, and with it raises the risk that faces them (especially those in Africa). This is because of the factors which hinder their development, poverty being a major one. Therefore, there is a need for putting the children and youths at the forefront of our discussion as most of them are not from financially stable homes capable of providing quality education for them as they will determine the quality of society’s future.

Birthed from the desire to give every child a chance at a better future, the Rochas Foundation started as a family affair in Owerri, with cook-outs, gifting the less privileged, going to churches and mosques with welfare packages.

With its headquarters in Owerri, Imo state, the Rochas Foundation was Established in 1998 and so far has trained 25,000 children, 6000 graduates, some of whom are now in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Google. It has been 24 years of providing free and quality education to the less privileged children in society, giving them a level playing ground with their privileged peers.
The vision includes alleviating the plight of handicapped and less privileged children through free and comprehensive secondary school education and also accommodation for poor children, thereby giving hope to the hopeless and sensitizing the populace on several health issues like HIV/AIDS prevention and quality living.

The Foundation is not peculiar to a certain zone in Nigeria, as it has colleges in Owerri, Sokoto, Ibadan, Cross River, Enugu, Owerri, Kano, Yola, Zaria, Jos, to name a few. The gesture was also expanded to 55 African countries, and indigent children were randomly selected and given free education up to the university level.

It will be recalled that the Olubadan, His Royal Majesty Akanmu Adetunji (Aje Ogungunniso) of Ibadan and the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) honored him with the award of “ Outstanding friend of Ibadan land in recognition of his contribution to the education of indigent children through his free education policy and establishment of tuition-free schools in Ibadan, Oyo state. 6000 children from Oyo states and other Southwest states have benefited from his free education program the award caps the grand finale of the 2021 Ibadan Cultural Festival Celebration at the liberty stadium.

In his words, “we in Ibadan have decided to celebrate you now and outside your territory to show that a burden has created a deserved permanent place for you in her territory. You are most deserving of this honor by virtue of this establishment. This unique youth empowerment legacy of yours remains indelible in our minds till eternity. It is also a testimony to the fact that you have what it takes to reposition our great country.”

As he received the award, he also stated that measures had to be put in place to eradicate poverty. According to him, it wasn’t borne out of the desire to flagrantly display wealth but to a covenant with God Almighty and urged collective efforts for a better future for our youth and children.
The Foundation is funded by various sets of businesses ranging from real estate to hospitality.
Not all heroes wear capes. Some give children and youths a better future.

“If there’s anything we can do in our time to help humanity, let us do it now for we might not pass this way again”.
- Rochas Okorocha