2024 EWURU EDUCATIONAL INCENTIVE PROGRAMME ORGANISERS GIFT PUPIL, IN EWURU EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
By Nicholas Ebegboni
Ewuru, a community in Agbor, Delta State, has been buzzing with excitement as organizers of the Ewuru Educational Incentive Program recently distributed educational materials to all the pupils in both public and private schools in Ewuru for the upcoming 2024/2025 academic session.
This generous act was made known to the public during a distribution exercise held on Tuesday, September 25, 2024, at Uweifo Primary School, Ewuru.
According to Chief Benjamin Ogwun, the Okwu Dein Wukpe of Agbor, one of the facilitators of the distribution of the educational materials, the initiative, he said, was launched by a group of dedicated Ewuru individuals, and aims to empower and support the future generations of Ewuru community by providing them with the necessary tools for academic success.
He said, Ewuru Educational Incentive Program started 15 years ago, and was established with a vision to bridge the gap in educational resources and opportunities for pupils and students in the community.
Additionally, he noted that, Ewuru as a community, like many others, faces challenges in ensuring that its youths have access to quality education, adding that with lack of financial resources and limited infrastructure, many students struggle to excel in their studies.
Recognizing the need for intervention, he said, the organizers of the program took it upon themselves to source for fund to purchase and distribute essential educational materials such as textbooks, stationery, and school bags to all pupils and students in Ewuru.
This thoughtful gesture he noted, is a significant step towards promoting equal access to education and leveling the playing field for all students, regardless of their socio-economic background.
The Agbor Palace chief affirmed that the organizers of this program are determined to see it through its long-term goals, with plans to expand and touch other areas in the education sector in the community, adding that, they believe that education is the key to a brighter future for the youths of Ewuru, assuring that, they are committed to supporting and encouraging them on their academic journey.
On his part, Chief Josiah Olukwu the Dein Cho Udon of Agbor kingdom urged the beneficiaries to continue to pray for those who are providing the educational materials, as he also told them to, have it mind that they are also to, help after succeeding to give back to the society as a way of appreciating the gesture.
According to him, “Yahoo is not anything to write home about, with time it would fade; whatever you acquire illicitly does not last”
Speaking also during the distribution exercise, Mr. Steve Ekiri-Mekuriuwa Ashien, publisher of Ika Weekly Newspaper hinted that the day was a special day, saying that it is special because for over 15 years, the practice has been going on.
He revealed that the donors were indigenes of Ewuru community as he pointed out that some even go to source for fund from people who are not from the community just to make a bigger impact in the lives of the beneficiaries.
In his words, “You cannot be a president or governor if you are not learned, I schooled here in in Uweifo Primary School around 1955, I have been to Europe a number of times, and that is because studied.”
Continuing, he said, “They are giving this assistance, so that parents will not spend money to buy books for their children, and one of the reasons is to ensure that you are well equipped to take over from us.”
Speaking further, he said, “We want to thank those who have been providing, we thank the teachers who have been taking good care of the pupils, because if the pupils are misled at this point in their life, they would have been misled for life.”
Mr. Ashien stated that even when people are complaining that there are no employment, he said, opportunities are bound for those who took their studies seriously and make good grades, stating that employers would be looking for them to employ them.
He seized the opportunity to disclose that Uweifo Primary School is the best school Public Primary School in Ika land in terms of infrastructure, adding that the edifices seen today in the school was built by indigenes of the community, and not government even though it’s a government school.
He hinted that the indigenes who built the school were not fraudsters or ‘yahoo boys’ but business men.
In appreciation, Mrs. Ikubor the H/M Uweifo Primary School, Ewuru, Mrs. Uche, Proprietress Gideon Generation school, Ewuru, and Mrs. Progress Ekpah, Hope Nursery and Primary School Ewuru, all thanked Ewuru Educational Incentive organizers for the gesture, as they prayed that, God will continue to provide for them.
The trio maintained that the donation of the educational materials would serve as a boost to the morale of the school children, assuring that it will help in uplifting the education system in the community.
Hon. Donald Okonta the Supervisor for Education, Ika South Local Government Council Area harped on the need for others to emulate such laudable gesture, as he noted that such things help to boost the morale of the pupils as it takes away financial burden from families.
The distribution exercise, which was held at Uweifo Primary School, was a well-organized event that was attended by local leaders, teachers, and volunteers. The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm and appreciation as students received their new educational materials with joy. The joy on the faces of the children and the gratitude expressed by their parents and teachers were a testament to the impact of the programme.