Anambra Community invest N31.5 million in education development
Education
By Mimi Chiadikobi
Enugwu-Agidi (Anambra) Oct. 4, 2024 Concern indigene’s of Enugwu-Agidi Community, in Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA)of Anambra have invested N31.5 Million in Education Development of the Community under the group called Educate Enugwu-Agidi Committee (EEAC).
Dr Chinedu Ikeanyi, National Coordinator of EEAC said during the unveiling of newly renovated and remodeled Mrs. Mary Okam Laboratory Complex at the Community Secondary School (CSS) with the help
Newsmen report on Thursday that the Laboratory Complex contains the biology, chemistry, physics and an ICT center for the attraction of the community school age persons.
Ikeanyi was represented by the Project Director of EEAC, Mr Victor Onwudinjo, said that the fund was raised at CSS and Government Technical College (GTC)by generous indigenes both at home and in diaspora.
Onwudinjo said that the aim of EEAC was to stop the current practice of the community school age persons travelling to acquire education in neighboring towns.
“Our parents built the community schools out of their personal efforts in 1977,we enjoyed good learning environment with basic tutorial facilities.
“The schools is now dilapidated, so children from the community goes to nearby towns like Amawbia or Awka schools for their secondary experiences simply because there are no functional science laboratories s at Enugwu-Agidi schools.
“In this era of emphasis in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), EEAC is Committed to ensuring that both secondary schools have modern, functional science laboratories.
“ The mission was to restore the lost glory of educational growth associated with the community as well as to
to improve education in the community inline with Gov. Charles Soludo's charge to school Principals to rally people in their areas for project development in the education sector.
“EEAC answered the government call on well-to-do individuals in the communities of the state to join hands in shaping the future of the younger generations for lasting legacies in education sector,’Onwudinjo said.
Onwudinjo, said in addition to the Laboratory complex, they had a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 6-bedroom Corp’s Lodge, which upon completion, it will be a big six self-contained bedrooms for youth corp members posted to the schools.
He listed other names of the EEAC members to include Chief Nnamdi Okam,Chief Nnoli Okoye
Chief Sunny Okoye, Mrs. Angela Aguolu, Evang. Mrs. Irene Nwachukwu, Dr. Chisom Nwaneki , Mr. Ebuka Okeke (Teacher/School Rep)
Also named are associate members and donors,Chief Innocent Obiorah Mr Chuks Nwodili , Dr. Samuel Anameze , Chief Osita Nwanisiobi ,Chief Clem Aguiyi and Chief Emeka Onuorah.
Onwudionjo that Obiorah single handedly funded the 2-Classrooms of the 6-Classrooms block rehabilitation at GTC Enugwu-Agidi that was in partnership with ASUBEB.
“The total cost for rehabilitating the Laboratories Complex at Community Secondary School, Enugwu-Agidi, is about N25.0m.
While the cost for the rehabilitation of the 2-Classrooms of the 6-Classrooms block at GTC, Enugwu-Agidi, is N6.5m.
“With the help of the Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU) National Executive Committee who started the rehabilitation work by doing the wooden roof truss but got stuck for over one year before EEAC took over and completed the works.
“The steel doors and windows were forcefully installed by the EBU NEC after EEAC had fabricated theirs, some of which were thereafter used in the ASUBEB Rehabilitated 5-Classrooms block in the School,” he said.,
He commended all the donors and appealed to other wealthy people to join in the vision and disclosed that EEAC is a subsidiary of the Matrons and Patrons Club of CSS and GTC EnugwuAgidi.
Onwudinjo said that committee was formed by both the principals of CSS Enugwu-Agidi, Mrs. Ekwy-Teckla Azubuike,and her counterpart, Mrs. Lip Ogbobe, the principal of (GTC) EnugwuAgidi,in response to Soludo’s charge to the principals.
He said that the goal of EEAC is to wipe out illiteracy in Enugwu-Agidi by ensuring that any child of secondary school age has access to a quality school on Enugwu-Agidi soil.
Earlier, addressing the gathering before commissioning the laboratory complex, Anambra Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-udeh stated that when progressivism is enthroned among a people, there are always better results.
Chuma-udeh noted that though Solodu met schools without teachers and with other rots, but his resolute to repositioning the education of the state is unwavering.
She noted that the projects are testimonies that the public private community partnership model of the Governor is working, and thanked Enugwu-Agidi people for thinking good about the future of their children.
The commissioner disclosed that the governor has declared free education and cancellation of all fees and levies in all public schools in the state and advised principals to abide by the directives.
Principal of CSS Enugwu-Agidi, Mrs Ekwt-Thecla Azubike, described the projects as remarkable achievement, recalled dilapidated nature of structures she met on ground, as well as efforts made to change the narratives, adding that the laboratory complex will help in effective teaching and learning of related subjects.
Azubuike commended the governor in his robust ideas in education sector and appealed that the school be provided with more security officers to beef up the ones due to security challenges experienced in the area.
The Traditional ruler of Enugwu-Agidi, Igwe Michael Okekeuche, appealed to the government to support the efforts of the community through intervention by way of erecting parameter fence in the GTC and sending students to the school.
Okekeuche, said that the community is doing their best and appeals that government presence be made available through provision of basic amenities.
He recalled activities of herdsmen in the school because of lack of perimeter fence, and fire incidents that gutted old laboratories, called on government to assist the community more in repositioning the school.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Mrs Ifeoma Agbaizu, member, PPSSC, Awka zone, Dr Mrs Uche Okeke, among others attended the event that featured cultural dance by students of the school.
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