Anioma’s Back to School Project
Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the maiden edition of the 'Back to School Project' initiated by the Anioma Youths Network for Development started off on a high note, as 130 less-privileged primary and secondary school students benefitted immensely
"I have always wanted to go to school but I had no idea where I will get the basic requirements to start the new school session until help came from Anioma Youths Network for Development (AYND), who provided me with all I need for the school session." Those were the words of Ugochukwu Ebube, one of the less-privileged 130 primary and secondary school pupils and students recently given a new lease of life by Anioma Youths Network for Development (AYND), a non-governmental organization (NGO), the Anioma nation from the Delta North Senatorial District.
Ugochukwu and others might have been lucky but recent statistics by UNESCO has unfortunately revealed that Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in sub-Sahara Africa to the alarming tune of 10.8 million. Encouraged by the saying, 'little drops of water makes a mighty ocean', the Back to School Project by the AYND, recently took up the gauntlet to rectify this anomaly by providing educational materials to these less-privileged kids in five communities in the Anioma community.
With a vision to transform the society by empowering disadvantaged children to realise their full potential, the Back to School Project for 130 less-privileged primary and secondary school students held in September at OnichaUgbo, Delta State where the beneficiaries from various secondary and primary schools in Onicha-Ugbo, Ubulu-Uku, Issele-Uku, Obior, Igbodo all in Anioma area were given high quality school bags, note books, mathematical sets, biros and other accessories to aid them as the 2017/2018 school year begins.
With its laudable dreams, the AYND said it’s already in the pipeline for the NGO to commence skills acquisition and ICT training for the youths in Anioma, adding that their vision is to positively impact the lives of the young ones in their communities.
The beneficiaries Cutting across five communities in Anioma area, the beneficiaries include those from Onicha-Ugbo and they include Praise and Ebube Ugochukwu, Chibueze, Neboliseh, and Munachi Okafor, Justine Emmanuel, Ugo, Ebube and Dumebi Onyeoka, Emeka and Chibuike Eduwa, Sunday Bioloseh, Okonkwor Somto, Ekwubi Isioma, Aisha, Idris and Yusuf Mohammed, Obioma Mary, Funanya, Chinye, Isioma and Nonso Abiamuwe, Peter Lucky, Onochie, Chidinma and Mirabel Nkeafuonye.
Others include Uwaeju Blessing, Iliya Sheto, Ekwubi Cynthia, Michael Jennifer, Njokede Ozioma, Nkechor Miracle, Ifechukwude Emmanuel, Ikechukwu Prosper, Nwabuisi Ebube, Kevin Ebegbune, Okafor Emeke, Ngozi Uzu, Akabude Precious, Alex Favour, Ofili Samuel, Uzu Daniel, Akaeze Ifechukwude, Agbor Favour, Odoh Chinasa, Rachael and Emmanuel Ogwugwua, Victor, Favour and Daniel Okwunodu and Okwechime Amaka.
Students like Bioseh Frank, Nnyaha Chiamaka, Odor Gift, Amumbor Ogochukwu, Okolie Azuka, Osemeke Chekwube, Success and Praise Afamefuna, Onwe Ogechi, Chisom Divine, Ekwubi Ifeanyi, Echezona Nkechor, Amarachi Emmanuel, Abia Ruth, Sunday Emmanuel, Chioma Obi, Monye Kosiso and Ifeanyi Nwaghodo, also benefitted.
Beneficiaries from Obior Town include Tobe Egeuyenga, Joy Isichei, Odumakin Ifechukwu, Miracle Ugeh, Ndubuisi Nkwor, Chiefuna Chioma, Emmanuel Maduka, Igwe Chinaza, Maxwell Cynthia and Nwaokolo Favour.
Other beneficiaries from Igbodo Town include Glory Ekwamaka, Chigbue Favour, Happy Nedum, Chukwudi Chinonso, Chidera Emeka, Osakwe Chukwueku, Okeleke Nonso, Ojogbo Bright, Chidi Unakpa and Esther Emmanuel.
From Ubulu-Uku Town were beneficiaries like Chukwunyem Okonta, Anwuli Emordi, Amechi Okonkwo, Elo Adigwe, Nkechi Okafor, Emeka Okonkwo, Ekene Okocha, Amaka Adoh, Ugbechie Jennifer, Chinedu Okafor, Rebecca Okocha and Afamefuna Adoh.
From Isele-Uku, the beneficiaries include Chukwudi Ifeoma, Moluba Esther, Maureen and Isioma Anika, Ebijie Isioma, Obiokor Victory, Imudia Juliet, Odio Uche, Justin Afamefuna, Nwanjor Nkem and Ifeanyi Chukwudi.
A barrel of dreams In his speech, the President, AYND, Mr. Sunday Odita, who also doubles as the President, Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) said, "This great event was strategically planned to take place now that primary and secondary schools in the country are about to resume for the 2017/2018 academic year.
"Unarguably, it is a period parents are usually under pressure to pay school fees and buy all the necessary books and materials for their children and wards. We are very much aware of the fact that there are some children in our communities whose parents are not well placed to cater for their needs at this time of school resumption; hence we have chosen to lend some support, no matter how small.
"I need not over-emphasise the fact that today brings an immense joy to me as a person and to other members of Anioma Youths Network for Development (AYND) as a dream nurtured over the years to positively affect the lives of our brothers and sisters in Anioma is being crystalised through our gathering here today.
"Historically, the AYND NGO with the youths as its centre-piece was founded about three years ago by a few of us following an idea mooted by my humble self (among other things), to advance issues that affect the lives of young people (youths) largely in the various communities that make up the Anioma nation – (Delta North Senatorial District).
"It is an open secret that the youths in our society constitute a large percentage of the unemployed and under-employed. While a good number of them are well educated in tertiary and post primary institutions, many others either dropped out of schools or learnt some trade but do not have what it takes to establish some business that could meaningfully engage them.
"Many of these unemployed and underemployed are part of us and our association is calling on government and development agencies, well placed individuals and organisations to assist in any way they can afford to create means of livelihood for these jobless youths.
"Specifically; our gathering here today is to kick-start what we have christened ‘back to school programme' which is designed to be an annual thing, God willing. As the founder and National President of the AYND, I thought it wise and necessary that one would not have to wait until he becomes a billionaire before giving a helping hand to those who really need help.
"None of us at AYND is yet in the billionaires’ club, but we have the passion to be our brother’s keeper hence we believe so much in using this programme to identify with our brothers and sisters in the secondary and primary schools.
"Personally, I embarked on this initiative