Delta Govt Commends Asaba Community for Interventions in Educational Advancement 

Asaba community has been commended for showing keen interest in the provision of quality education for children in schools in its domain.

Delta State Commissioner for Primary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu; now redeployed to the Ministry of Secondary Education, gave the commendation on Wednesday at the donation of 200 desks/chairs and 1000 exercise books to Ahabam Primary School by ASDEV ’81 Club.

Dr. Ashibogwu noted that the community’s gestures and interventions had always been driven by the understanding and belief that government alone should not provide the needs of the people, stressing that well-meaning individuals and organisations should find ways of giving back to society. 

He articulated Asagba Prof Azinge’s visits to some Asaba schools for on the spot assessment of learning conditions, donation of chairs/desks to Asagba Mixed Secondary School, donation of text books to some primary schools, payment of bursary to Asaba students in tertiary institutions, award of scholarship to indigent students, amongst others, as indications of genuine interest in the educational advancement of the community.

The Commissioner, while disclosing that the state government would soon be distributing over 30,000 chairs/desks to schools across the state, thanked ASDEV ’81 Club for the gesture, which he said was geared towards improving teaching and learning environment.

In his remarks, the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON; who commissioned the chairs/desks and 1000 exercise books, commended ASDEV ’81 Club for the gesture, which he said was in sync with his social infrastructure vision.

The Monarch recalled that he had earlier visited the school to observe the learning environment, following which some text books were donated to it, describing the ASDEV ’81 Club’s donation as gratifying and highly commendable.

He said though the Asaba community would continue to play a supportive role and to assist to the best of its ability, government owed it as a duty to provide for the people and should not take the community’s interventions for granted.

The highly revered traditional ruler used the occasion to renew his call on government to establish more primary and secondary schools in Asaba to accommodate the  growing population of children in the capital city.

In his welcome address, the National President of ASDEV ’81 Club, Asaba, Ogbueshi Emeka Udobi; said the donation of the school furniture and exercise books marked a significant milestone in the annals of history of the Club whose core objectives cut across educational development, health and social interventions, promotion of cultural heritage, amongst others.

Ogbueshi Udobi pointed out that ASDEV ’81 Club remained a global organisation with six chapters for administrative convenience, explaining that the donation was the first phase of the Club’s educational development intervention, starting with Ahabam Primary School in Umuezei quarters, to be extended to the remaining four quarters of Asaba.

He disclosed that the next phase would involve quiz and debate competitions to encourage the reading culture among Asaba children.

For his part, the Project Committee Chairman of ASDEV ’81 Club, USA chapter, Ogbueshi Emmanuel Obi, represented by Ogbueshi Ephraim Okotcha, said the donation was part of their efforts to support the future of children, stressing that the Club was committed to contributing to the growth and development of the Asaba community. 

‘’Instead of waiting for others to act, we decided to take the first step because when you lift a child, you lift a family, and when you lift families, you lift an entire community. Our children are our future, and investing in them is investing in Asaba’’, he said. 

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government, Hon. Dr Kelvin Ezenyili, who was represented by the Leader of the Oshimili South Legislature, Michael Okonji; and the Chairman of ASDEV ’81 Club, USA chapter, Ogbueshi Larry Okolo.

In a vote of thanks, the Headmistress of Ahabam Primary School, Mrs Elizabeth Echenua; expressed appreciation to the state government, the Asagba of Asaba, HRM, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON; and ASDEV ’81 Club for the gesture, promising that the furniture and exercise books would be put to good use.