The Christ Embassy Church has begun the construction of an InnerCity Mission School, which will be a free school, in Atali community of Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State.
The school, when completed, will be the 16th of such schools so far established in Nigeria by the Chris Oyakilohme Foundation International and the InnerCity Mission.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Director of InnerCity Mission, Pastor Omo Alabi, applauded President of Christ Embassy Church, Reverend Chris Oyakilohme, for being instrumental in providing quality education and holistic development to children in underserved communities.
Alabi said: “Today marks another momentous occasion in the history of our organisation as we gather to break grounds for the 16th InnerCity Mission 100 per cent free school here in Atali community, Rivers State.
“This new school will be the latest addition to the ever-expanding network of InnerCity Mission Schools founded under the auspices of Chris Oyakilohme Foundation International by the visionary leader and president, Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakilohme, which has been instrumental in providing quality education and holistic development to children in underserved communities across Africa and Asia. We thank our founder and president, Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakilohme for the priority he has place on the education of children.”
In his remarks, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Professor Chinedu Mmon, thanked the church for coming up with the initiative of setting up such a school in Atali community.
Mmon, who was represented by the Director of Administration, Ministry of Education, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, stated that for a very long time, the church and the government have been partners in raising the children.
He said: “We thank Christ Embassy Church and the founder for coming out with this initiative of setting up a school in Atali in Rivers State. For a very long time, the church and the government have been partners in raising our children.
“In the early 70s, the state government then took over all mission schools, which after some years again, they were returned back to the missions. Since then, churches have come up to set up new schools in the state. Government and the church are partners. Whatever schools the churches are setting up should also be regulated by the government.”
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Zonal Director, Port Harcourt Zone 1, Christ Embassy, Pastor Amaechi Udeaku, stated that the InnerCity Mission is 100 per cent free with free uniforms, free tuition, free books and free launch.
Udeaku said: “We are making history again in Rivers State as we begin the building of state-of-the-art totally-free InnerCity Mission School in Atali, Rivers State.
“The InnerCity Mission School is 100 per cent; free-tuition, free uniforms, free books, free lunch. I want to start by thanking our man of God, Rev. Dr. Chris Oyakilohme, once again for the vision and opportunity given to InnerCity Mission to embark on this cause.”
