Akwa Ibom Diaspora Group Tackles Out-of – school Problem

A diaspora group – Mboho Ndito Ibibio (MNI), in the United States (US), Washington DC chapter, has expressed dismay over the unattractive public education system in Akwa Ibom State, leading to children’s apathy to basic education in the state.

Consequently, the group has launched an intervention scheme in the form of scholarships and provision of educational incentives to lure pupils in public primary schools to imbibe the culture of education as a springboard towards honing their skills as leaders of tomorrow.

Towards this end, the president of the MNI, in Washington DC, Ukoiden Ibok Esema, said the forum was disturbed by the problem and decided to set up a committee to launch an interventionist scheme to curtail the drift.

Therefore, aside scholarships and other community projects, the group on Wednesday donated educational materials including books, writing materials, school bags, and other items to over 250 pupils drawn from four primary schools in Mkpat Enin local government area in the first phase of the scheme.

Addressing the beneficiaries drawn from the Qua Iboe Church Primary School, Ikot Obio Ndoho; Saint Paul Catholic School, Ekim; Godly Heritage Model School and Sheda Nursery and Primary School, Ikot Aba, the president of the MNI, Washington DC, Ukoiden Ibok Esema, explained that the resolution was reached after a careful research on the most pressing areas for urgent intervention.

“Education is the key to the children’s future and that’s why the committee picked on education and scholarship intervention,” he recalled, and commended Governor Umo Eno, for his vision in investing massively to revamp the education sector under the ARISE Agenda blueprint of his government.

The commissioner for Education, Dr Idongesit Etiebet, and the permanent secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Stella Etukakpan, represented by a senior official of the ministry, Mrs. Mercy Okure, commended the group for the intervention, noting that the scheme would go a long way towards curbing incidences of out – of – school children in rural Akwa Ibom.

“The initiative will help in taking the children off the streets,” she stressed, and called on other public – spirited individuals, corporate organisations, civil society organisations (CSOs) and other non-state actors, to emulate the group.