By Henry Akubuiro
• The Anambra State Commissioner for Education,Professor Ngozi, Chuma-Udeh (middle), handing over Education items to Enugwu Otu community in Anambra East LGA
The Anambra State Ministry of Education has declared as false and a gross misquote, the news going round in some sections of the media, that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has banned extra moral classes and pegged the time for school dismissal in the state.
In her reaction, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, stated that the story was quoted out of context, adding that there was never a time banning of extra moral classes and time stipulations for schools dismissal was mentioned in her press statement.
Wondering how the reporter chose to input “banning of extra moral classes” in the report, Prof. Chuma-Udeh advised respected members of the press to always ensure factual and correct reportage devoid of sentiments.
She stated that the misconceptions arose from a statement made while fielding questions in a press interview, she delineated the UN stipulated time for dismissal of schools while stating that Nigeria adopts the Progressive Child Centered Education as propounded by John Dewey.
Meanwhile, Governor Soludo has distributes educationnaterisls Items to oupils In Enugwu Otu, Anambra East LGA.
In line with the governor’s decision to make quality education accessible to the rural populace of the hard to reach areas in Anambra State, Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, on Tuesday, distributed education items of different kinds to schools in Enugwu Otu community in Anambra East Local Government Area.
The items were sourced from the Universal Basic Education Commission and some well meaning illustrious people of Enugwu Otu community, in the spirit of Public Private Community Partnership programme of the Anambra State Government. The event was the launching of Enugwu Otu Education Development Program. (E.D.P.)
Addressing the gathering, Commissioner Chuma-Udeh charged the school children to avail themselves of opportunity provided by the education passionate Governor Chukwuma Soludo to better the future they represent. She posited that, if the Enugwu Otu born Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka could excel educationally, the children of the hard to reach with this opportunity can do more. She informed the Enugwu Otu community that Commissioner Julius Chukwuemeka’s excellence earned him a position in the Executive Council, with which he has passionately represented the Enugwu Otu community.
Prof. Chuma-Udeh appreciated the traditional ruler of Enugwu Otu community for garlvernising the interest of the community towards this development venture in the spirit of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s program of Public Private Community Partnership.
The Chairman, Anambra Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Vera Nwadinobi, stated that it was in keeping with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directives that what is made available in urban schools must also be made available in hard to reach schools.
In his vote of thanks, the Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, who iwas the Chairman on the occasion, eulogised Governor Chukwuma Soludo for making the urban slum of Okpoko his first point of call on assumption of duty and being the first state governor that visited the hard-to-reach areas of Enugwu Otu and Olumbanasaa. He encouraged the children to embrace hard work as a tool for success. “I was able to excel, because I noticed that the same textbooks were read in urban schools and hard to reach schools,” he said
Earlier in welcome address presented by the President General, the Enugwu Otu community appreciated Gov. Soludo for the great projects that would bring the community closer to the brink of an urban city.
He converted the Enugwu Otu boreholes to solar energy, sited one of the Anambra general hospitals in the community and electrified Enugwu Otu. The community also thanked the governor for appointing their illustrious sons, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, Commissioner for Power and Water Resources; Hon. Pius Machi and Hon Dominic Okagbue SSAs to the Governor on Media and Publiclty.
The high points of the event were the symbolic handover of the education items to the pupils, match past and declaration by traditional ruler of Enugwu Otu community, Igwe Emmanuel Igboanugo Ejiofo; the traditional ruling council, Ndi Ichie and women leaders that everybodu should support Governor Soludo who had created the enabling environment for the development of Enugwu Otu community.