REASONS BEHIND THE BOOKS DONATION BY ANAMBRA PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION CANADA TO ANAMBRA LIBRARY

ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU



Sir Norbert Onyedum Obi is the Chairman Anambra state Post Primary Schools Service Commission (PPSSC), Awka. He is also the Coordinator, Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) Nnewi Catholic Diocese. So his verdict on the education sector before Governor Peter Obi came into office best described the situation Anambra state schools are today. 



In an interview with Champion Scholar, Sir Obi said , I must confess it has not been easy trying to match the expectations of His Excellency, the Governor of Anambra State in the education sub-sector with the near collapse school system we met on ground. Mr. Peter Obi’s love for quality education and proper formation of the young ones, his desire for the best for the children is unequally in the history of the state.

To meet up his expectations at a time when the infrastructures were terribly dilapidated, dearth of teachers as well low moral of teachers which has militated against quality education delivery in state public schools was a Herculean task. 



Sir Obi from Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government area further said, teaching and learning in schools were almost grounded due to lack of basic infrastructure and equipment. There was so much dilapidation of school buildings that the roofs of many buildings caved in and in some places, classes were held under the trees in very deplorable conditions. 

But today due to the commitment, and dedication to duty of Mr Peter Obi and his interest in future generation, the story has changed for better. Many schools now teach their lessons in very conducive environment.

More than 200 schools have received the attention of the state Governor in all the six education zones in the state, namely Awka, Onitsha , Nnewi, Aguata, Ogidi and Otuocha.

He further eulogized the administration of Obi’s government by as he said, by the grace of God, we have not only cleared the unpaid retirement benefits but also released the promotion of tutorial and non-tutorial staff up to 2010, bringing to an end the arrears of promotion that lingered for the past 15 years.

A breakdown of the promotions showed that from 2005-2010 we have promoted a total of 7,717 staff on SGL13-SGL16, even though we have stopped mass promotion. Teachers must be promoted on merit through promotion interviews so that productivity would be more encouraged.

Also staff requests over these years were promptly attempted to administratively without staff following up their letters. This aspect has given staff a sense of belonging. 



Champion Scholar further reports that soon adopt a school policy of the state Government initiated by Governor Obi will come into effect. Through this policy Obi is attracting wealthy people to adopt a school in their names and build new structures as well as ensure the needs of the school infrastructure wise and equipment are assured through his or her Philanthropic gestures.

That new policy on Education will encourage privileged individuals to adopt schools in their areas.

Champion Scholar recalled that Governor Peter Obi announced this at the distribution of books and Educational materials to some selected schools in the country by Sir Emeka Offor Foundation at Oraifite recently. 

Governor Obi said the new policy which would cover all levels of education was aimed at attracting individual contributions towards rebuilding and equipping schools. 

He explained that education remains cardinal instrument to empower the people, reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals while books were critical to attain qualitative education. 

The Governor explained that the only practical way to bridge the gap between the rich and poor is for privileged individuals to invest in empowering the under-privileged and eschewing extravagant life style. 

He expressed satisfaction that schools in the State have continued to record steady growth and enjoined the beneficiaries of the books to put them to good use. 

The vice President of the National Library Association of Nigeria, Dr Mrs. Nancy Achebe extolled the remarkable contributions of Governor Obi in promoting the growth of library and elevating it to a pride of place. 

The President General of Orafite Town Union, Sir Ralph Nweke said Governor Obi had restored the voice of Ndigbo and given their identity a prominent presence in national.  He noted that the smooth road network and massive infrastructural development have boosted socio-economic life in the state. 

Responding the donor, Sir Emeka Offor said the gesture was aimed at redirecting interest of children and youth towards imbibing effective reacting culture to grow into responsible citizens. He noted that the exercise was the first phase and disclosed that more educational materials will be distributed in subsequent phases. 



And since that appeal, men and women as well as groups of means have been donating to the Anambra state government and adopting schools even when the policy has not been launched. That was why when last week, the State Government took delivery of over twenty thousand, five hundred books donated by Anambra Progressive Association, Toronto, Onario Canada for the State Libraries, there was joy in the state. 



Governor Peter Obi who received the books at the Professor Kenneth Dike Central Library, Awka, said the gesture would assist the present government efforts to promote reading culture through well-equipped and functional libraries as part of the efforts to promote qualitative education and positive attitudinal change.

He recalled that Professor Kenneth Dike Library was the first library to be built by the State Government since 1967 and has been adjudged the best in the South-East Zone and will soon be fully equipped and put into use. 



The Governor disclosed that the library has been chosen as one of the electronic libraries in the State and will soon receive computers and other internet facilities. 



Governor Obi while thanking the association for the donation, enjoined the library management to ensure proper documentation and announced that two more Associations have pledged to donate more books to the State and restated the commitment of his administration to take right decisions that will change the State.

He charged our people in Diaspora to emulate the gestures rather than making senseless criticisms their forte. 



The Secretary of the Association Mr. Prince Ofumelu said the books were part of their contributions towards the on-going transformation of the State especially the Education Sector. He disclosed that within the next six months the Association will donate more books, computers and other educational materials to the State. 



He extolled Governor Obi for initiating and completing the library project which he noted is of world class standard and the best in the country. 



Another member of the Association, Obiageli Nriagu urged people of the State to put the books to good use and commended the remarkable achievements recorded by the Governor. 



Also speaking, the Director State Library Service, Nkem Osuigwe said they will soon take delivery of computers, internet facilities and power generator from the Universal Service Provider of the National Communication Commission“ NCC.

Obi had earlier said that one of the major reasons while he visited schools in the State, government and privately owned was to learn first hand about their challenges as to be in a better position to know how government would assist. 

He spoke during a visit to St Paul’s Seminary, Ukpor, where he presented 10 computers with accessories to the students. He also presented a cheque of 1 Million Naira to them for their INTERNET services project.

That has been his way of donating to both private and public schools to the extent that over 230 schools in the state has benefited in one way on the other aside constitutional three blocks of classrooms every year , laboratories , school buses and computers and internet facilities to mention but a few.

Gov. Obi was accompanied on the visit by the speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili, the Deputy Speaker, Hon.  Orizu and some members of his Cabinet.

He said the presentations were in fulfilment of the promises he made to the Bishop of Nnewi, Most Rev. Dr. Hilary Okeke and in line with the policy of administration to empower schools in the state towards effective information communication technology education.

He observed that his visits to school afford him the opportunity to interact with students and identify the peculiar problems of the school and expresses satisfaction that the state is on course to achieve its vision, noting that it is one of the few states endorsed by international agencies for its commitment to reforms.

The Governor, who said the state is the least indebted in the country, explained that work is going on at different road projects in the area including Ichida-Akwaihedi road and recalled that his administration paid for the total sum of money expanded in the execution of Lassel-ukpor road project.

The Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Most Revered Okeke represented by his secretary, Rev. Fr.  Celestine Okonkwo commend the Governor for his zeal and passion for the formation of the young and outstanding contributions in repositioning education sector as well as putting in place necessary logistics for effective acquisition of knowledge and skill to mould the young into responsible citizens.

The Bishop expressed confidence that the visit will open windows of opportunities for the seminarians to fulfill their ambition.

Also speaking, the Rector of the seminary very revered father Dr George Oranekwu represented by his vice , Rev Fr. Samuel Odajiri extolled the governor for his commitment to welfare of the seminarians and collective interest of the state.

In an address, the President students’ council, Master Oscar Igwe said the visit was expression of the Governor to serve the state deligently and requested his intervention in various areas.

With these testimonies , the Secondary school teachers in Anambra State drawn from various schools across the state and which also included vice principals in a statement in Awka said Governor Peter Obi has surpassed their expectations. They expressed astonishment with what they saw on ground after their inspection of his projects within 5 years in office described his achievements as conflicting with what they heard outside from probably enemies of progress. These views were expressed by the Principal Comprehensive Secondary School, Nawfia , Mr. Okechukwu Emmanuel. 



One of the teachers who spoke after their tour of projects executed with their taxes, Mrs Ebele Ugwunze of Community Secondary School Okpuno had this to say, My impression is that Anambra is working and Peter Obi is working. Seeing believes. Before now I would had been hearing rumors about his so-called achievements but today I ve seen and I ve believed. If I didn’t see these things I wouldn’t have believed.



Mrs Ugwunze advised Anambra people to henceforth believe every word the governor tells them. He’s come of a truth to rebrand us and give us what belongs to us. All we should do is to pray for him. With what we saw he is carrying everybody along, she gushed. 



For Mrs Bridget Ozue, another teacher from Community Secondary School Umuokpu, the teachers having seen the truth would now fight for the governor to defend that truth. 



The teachers tour is part of the state government’s design to enable the tax payers to see what the state is doing with their money. The tour by the teachers is coming on the heels of a similar one by traders who out of happiness demanded for a review of the constitution so that Obi would go for a third term. 



In his reaction Governor Obi who described the teachers as molders of society said he had decided to make them to embark on the tour at this time that elections were over in order not to make it seem as a campaign. 



He said despite the very lean resources of the state he had worked in every sector without borrowing money and attributed it to prudent management of resources and his willingness to cut the cost of governance. 



Obi told them that he would bring them back in six months and that they would witness great changes from what they had just seen. 



He said he had no desire to contest any other elective position after his tenure as governor but would return to his business and lives among his people. 



He recalled his strides in the secondary education sector which included the provision of buses to 100 schools, building of 4, 000 classrooms, provision of laptops to 10, 000 schools, provision of computers to schools, construction of boreholes for schools, connection of 120 schools to the internet, provision of Microsoft Academy to 120 schools, among others, as well as his plan to build libraries in secondary schools. 



On the minimum wage issue he said the state government would pay it but urged the teachers to exercise patience and be ready to sacrifice for the good of the state, even as he said the wages of all categories of workers would be raised at the same time and not differently as some people would want. 



I want to do this because I regard every worker as equal, including the gateman, he said, pointing out that the state belonged to everybody. 



He restated his resolve to do what is right even if it made him unpopular to some people. What matters is that we are by so doing building a better future for our children, he stated.