Benjamin Kalu: From Studying Under Tree Shade To Building Classrooms

The life of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has over the years been defined by this biblical injunction as charity is at the forefront of his personal and official life.

For those who keep pulse on Deputy Speaker Kalu’s trajectory, will agree that he lives a life animated by charity, which in a Christian context, means living a life guided by the theological virtue of charity – the love of God and neighbor, and the the foundation for all other virtues.

This, he does without anticipation for a reward because as a lawmaker his charitable acts extend far beyond his Constituency, hence without they are politically motivated but purely out of compassion and good conscience.

As you may recall, many years ago, long before he ventured into politics, Kalu founded the Benjamin Kalu Foundation (BKF), focusing on empowering youth, women, and people with disabilities. The foundation has held so many empowerment programmes which have been of great benefit to not just his constituents but also citizens from other parts of the country.

The Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State lawmaker, fondly called ‘Enyi Abia’ demonstrated this kind gesture again over the weekend in far away Calabar, Cross Rivers State – South-South Nigeria.

Kalu was in the arguably first Nigerian capital for the 37th Convocation ceremony and 50th anniversary celebrations of the University of Calabar, his alma mater where he delivered the convocation lecture, recalling fondly his humble beginnings as a young boy whose primary school classroom was under the shade of a tree.

He said, “l am here today not just as a guest lecturer but as living proof that education has the power to lift a child from the most unlikely places and set him on a path beyond imagination. I was born in Bende when the South East was beginning to rise from the abyss of the civil war, the air still thick with the stench of blood and gunfire. As you know, war does not only take lives; it steals the light of learning, leaving behind ruins where schools should stand. And so, education was a privilege rather than a guarantee. My primary school classroom was under the shade of a tree, proof that knowledge is never bound by walls or limited by circumstance. We had no blackboards, no desks, no digital tools, only the will to learn and the belief that knowledge could be our escape from limitation.

“Years later, i came back to that very place—not as a boy learning under the scorching sun, but as a representative of my people, building schools where i once sat under a tree and uplifting my community in ways that once seemed impossible. Indeed, i believe that education should not be a privilege—it should be a birthright, the inheritance of every child, no matter their circumstances. And while my journey began beneath a tree, it was at the University of Calabar that my roots found depth and my dreams found wings.”

Resonating with the idiom, “The Gift That Keeps on Giving,” of course his alma mater too, was not starved of Kalu’s milk of kindness as he entered into partnership with the University of Calabar to build a convocation pavilion to alleviate the stress of convoking graduates and conferring honourary degrees on eminent personalities under canopies.

Speaking on why he decided to build a pavillion for the university, Kalu said while his journey began beneath a tree, it was at the University of Calabar that his roots found depth and his dreams found wings.

He said: “At year 50, we’ve matured as one of the best citadels of learning in the country. It is not right that we do our convocation under canopies, therefore something is needed to be done. So, when they presented this before me, I said yes, for the image and dignity of the university, this is necessary. I chose to partner with the university to fix this convocation arena.

“I pray that the contractor won’t do the kind of job I’m seeing in some of the buildings here, because we’ll be supervising from my office and the committee of the House of Representatives in charge of university education will pay special attention. All we want is let it be done well. We’ll scrutize from quality to the aesthetics for it to be fit for purpose so that when I come again with our people to have our reunion, we’ll do it inside that hall. Please, choose the people that will do a good job.

“To sustain this citadel of learning, it needs our attention as private individuals to come back and add value, it doesn’t have to be big as this centre. It could be one form of assistance to another so that you will leave a good legacy. I urge all malabites to remember Unical that formed our character. I whispered to the vice Chancellor, when we were walking around I saw a lot of developments. I commend you for the good work. This is kind of energy we need from the women, to add value to governance. You are a role model to young people who wants to be in power”.

Thereafter, he proceeded to Infant Jesus Orphanage in Calabar, where he offered scholarships to two young orphans from primary to the university level and made a cash donation of N2 million as well as food items to the Orphanage.

Addressing the kids Kalu said: “I’m here with my classmates from University of Calabar, and my colleagues from the National Assembly to show our love and support to you. We will take over the training of
the twin to University level. I’m happy and proud they want to study law. We will support them. We will pay your school fees.

“We brought you some food stuff and we will send you more. We will bring you toiletries. The people you’re seeing here are your fathers and mothers. We are going to appoint a commitee that will be taking care of you. Aside the food stuff, I’m giving a cash donation of N2 million.”

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Obi and coordinator of the orphanage, Sister Chinyere Chukwuka, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Kalu and his team, praying for God’s blessings upon them.

~ Udora is Special Assistant (Press Affairs) to the Deputy Speaker.