By: Our Reporter, Calabar
The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, has launched an education foundation in Etung Local Government Area to immortalize his late father, Teacher Okongor Asu Ayuk, a pioneer educator in the former South Eastern State.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Ayuk said the foundation would focus on providing scholarships and technical training opportunities for indigent children and youths in Etung.
He explained that the initiative was born out of his father’s lifelong commitment to education and the urgent need to address high school dropout rates in rural communities.
As part of the foundation’s take-off, Dr. Ayuk announced a scholarship scheme for 500 Junior Secondary School (JSS1) students, to be funded personally by him and supported by his friends. The scheme will commence in September, with 50 beneficiaries selected from each ward in the LGA.
“Education is the foundation of sustainable development. Financial constraints must not stand in the way of our children. We are determined to ensure they remain in school,” Ayuk said.
The commissioner lamented the dwindling participation of students in national examinations, revealing that only three candidates from his immediate community sat for the last West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
He pledged sustained monitoring to guarantee that scholarship recipients not only gain admission but also attend classes consistently.
The event, which attracted traditional rulers, political leaders, and community stakeholders, was widely hailed as a milestone effort in bridging the education gap at the grassroots.
Residents described the move as unprecedented, while several well-placed citizens pledged their support to sustain the scheme and expand its reach in the future.
