Educational materials worth millions of naira were on Wednesday, distributed to pupils of various schools in Enugwu-Otu community in Anambra East Council Area of Anambra State.
The items were sourced from the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, and some well-meaning illustrious people of Enugwu Otu community, in keeping with the Public Private Community Partnership program of the State Government.
The distribution happened at the launching of Enugwu Otu Education Development Program. (E.D.P.)
Presenting the items, the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh said it was in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision to make quality education accessible to the rural populace of the hard-to-reach areas in Anambra State,
Commissioner Chuma-Udeh charged the school children to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the state government, to better the future they represent.
Addressing the pupils, Chuma-Udeh said, “if the State Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, who is from Enugwu-Otu could excel educationally to earn a place at the State Executive Council, the children of the hard-to-reach with this opportunity can do more.
“This potential which education has to turn lives around is what the governor has identified and is taking steps to ensure that children in the hard-to-reach areas of the state are not denied the opportunity of achieving their manifest destinies because they could not afford quality education.
“With the free education policy and other efforts of the government, children here can now get the same quality education available to their peers in the cities, down here at the hinterlands.
“That is Mr Governor’s target.”
Prof. Chuma-Udeh appreciated the traditional ruler of Enugwu-Otu community for galvanizing the interest of the community towards supporting Soludo’s program of Public Private Community Partnership, in the area of education.
She encouraged other communities to toe the same path and deploy their resources to support the less privileged among them.
Earlier, the Chairman, of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Prof. Vera Nwadinobi stated that the distribution was in keeping with Governor Soludo’s directives that what is made available in urban schools must also be made available in hard-to-reach schools.
In his vote of thanks, the Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, who is the Chairman on the occasion, eulogized Governor Soludo for making the urban slum of Okpoko his first port of call upon assumption of duty and being the first Governor that visited the hard-to-reach areas of Enugwu-Otu and Olumbanasaa.
He encouraged the children to embrace hard work as a tool for success.
“I was able to excel because I noticed that the same textbooks were read in urban schools and hard-to-reach schools.
“I then applied my energy to studying hard and being the best in everything I do.
“You too can achieve the same and even more,” he encouraged the children.
Earlier in a welcome address presented by the President General, Jeo Odikpo, the Enugwu-Otu community appreciated Gov. Soludo for the great projects that would bring the community closer to becoming an urban city.
“The governor converted the Enugwu-Otu boreholes to solar energy and sited one of Anambra General Hospitals in the community, as well as brought electricity to Enugwu-Otu.
“These are bold projects that can make Enugwu-Otu an urban community in no distant time,” he said.
