By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
The Obong of Calabar-Elect, His Royal Highness, Etubom Anthony Ani, has advised the people of Mbiabo Ikot Offiong to rise up and begin to think of how to compliment government’s efforts in the provision of basic infrastrcutures in their community.
He gave the advise while inaugurating a 7-man committee for the construction of primary/secondary schools in Ikot Offiong Community which he promised to provide for them.
It would be recalled that during the visit of lkot Offiong community to me on August 1, 2023, they had complained that for the last Twenty-three (23) years, they had not been given any education, roads, and other social services.
According to the Obong -Elect, “I had immediately, thereafter, said that since education is communal, they should not wait for the government to provide these facilities all by itself; but that they Ikot Offiong community, should start something on their own”.
However he continued “I had promised to show leadership, by building a primary school, as well as award scholarships to deserving students”.
He declared “I have considered education as the bed-rock of development and progress. A situation where children cannot go to school, means the next generation is a wasted generation and this must not be allowed to happen”.
As a result of this scenario, we are setting up a committee to look into the educational requirements of the lkot Offiong community, starting with a community primary school.
First, he said, “we are going to build a Six (6) room primary school block, with all the facilities; and hoping that by this time next year, all eligible children and even adults, will commence school at lkot Offiong community.
The committee among others, is “to identify suitable land for the construction of the primary school and a secondary school in future, too survey the land, identify and engage a suitable architect to design the primary/secondary schools complex and to ascertain in totality, the cost of the primary school”.
Also the committee “is to award the contract for the construction of the primary school, after receiving my approval to do so, to identify students, both young and old; and recommend same for the award of scholarships and to liaise with the CRS Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and other governmental institutions for approval, guidance, assistance in the provision of teachers and curriculum, for the takeoff of the primary school by October 1, 2024.
He said “as I have reiterated above, no community should wait for government to provide all basic amenities, particularly in this period of hardship and shortage of money.”
By so doing, “I believe that the government on seeing what we have done, will naturally intervene to secure the project.”
The primary school will be funded by donations, gifts and contributions from the people of Ikot Offiong community; the name donated will be properly evaluated and treated as a contribution from the people of Ikot offiong.
“Aside from personal contributions that I will make towards the completion of the school, he announced awarding Fifty (50) brand-new scholarships to the first fifty(50) students of the primary school”.
He said that the school will be built in the name of Ikot Offiong people and administratively managed by Ikot Offiong people and supervised by a Trust.
He said that Ikot Offiong community must be ready to guarantee that the pupils’ property, and school properties would be safe and secured, adding that “none of the pupils, teachers or other staff would be molested.
The Obong Elect advised the people of Ikot Offiong to form a ring around the school, so as to ensure that anyone entering its portals is safe and free from all threats, actual dangers or anything associated with violence.”
The committee is headed by His Excellency, H.R.H (Dr.) Eubom Nyah Asuquo, Chairman, Chief Engr. Ekpo Eyamba, Secretary,Chief Igoni Archibong, member, Chief Henry Okoh- member, Chief Bassey Okon Asuquo – member,, Rev. Bassey Ekanem- member and Chief Etim Akpaso – member
He charged the committee to work towards having the first intake of the primary school on 1st of October, 2024.
Earlier, Amb. Etubom Nya Asuquo , Chairman of the committee said lauded the Obong-elect, in his magnanimity and promise to give us a primary school.
According to him, “this is a community that has not had any facility for 23 years, so the first good thing that has come to that community is the primary school that would be functional and running”.
He commended him for the promise to give scholarships to the students that would pass through that school.
As a result, “we the Ikot Offiong people have never have had it so good and we are thankful from the bottom of our heart.”
Said he, “I was surprised when i came to meet the Obong-elect a few days after, to thank him privately, he told me that when we go to survey the land, we should survey enough land to accommodate a secondary school and that means in future, we shall have a secondary school in Ikot Offiong”.
Continuing, “our people who are mainly fishermen with war imposed on them, will now be able to send their children to school so that even those who are adults and also fishermen, can equally go to school to learn how to read and write”.
“The committee are saddled with the building and completion of that primary school between now and December so that school can start in January 2024, he added.”
“On behalf of Ikot Offiong community, I thank our Obong-elect profusely for this singular gesture and love that he has extended to us. He has always been of immense assistance to Ikot Offiong not only today”.
“When the war started, he gave Ikot Offiong a lot of refugee relief material and assistance and over the years, he has been assisting as he pledge that the whole of Ikot Offiong is behind you and whatever you want us to do we will do it”.
In his remarks, a Community Leader in Ikot Offiong, Chief Okon Lazarus Okon expressed gratitude for what the Obong-elect has done for them. In the past he used to give us fish but now he is teaching us how to fish in Ikot Offiong.
He prayed God to keep him alive for giving us education again after many years of crisis.
