…Donates school uniforms to pupils
By Kelvin Obambon
A philanthropist, Lion Chief Ene Okpo-Ene Ita, has transformed dilapidated classroom block at Saint Mary’s Primary School established in 1950 in Esine-Ufot Adiabo, Odukpani local government area of Cross River State, into a modern structure befitting for teaching and learning activities.
Chief Ita who is the President Calabar Tinapa Lions Club, was joined by members of the Lions Club International to officially commission and hand over the 3-classroom block with 4 toilets to the Cross River State Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), on Wednesday.
Speaking during the ceremony, Chief Ita said he embarked on the renovation project after he discovered that infrastructure in the school were all in decrepit state and there was no suitable structure for teaching and learning to take place.
“There are three blocks of classroom in this school. They are all leaking when it rains. I decided to pick one of the three blocks as a project that can immediately affect the lives of the pupils positively. I took it up and set a one-year timeline for its completion. I started it in February, 2024 and today 26 June, 2024 the project is 100 percent completed.
“It’s a 3-classroom block with 4 toilets. We earmarked the toilet 1 for the head teacher, 1 for the female teachers, 1 for the male teachers and 1 for the pupils.
“The total cost of this project is 7.8 million naira, and it is all my money without borrowing from anywhere. To the glory of God, today we are handing over a classroom block that is deserving to the Ministry of Education and SUBEB,” he said.
Chief Ita, however, appealed to the ministry of education and SUBEB to furnish the classrooms with modern desks and whiteboards to give the pupils a taste of what their peers in the city are enjoying.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Stephen Odey, in his remarks, thanked Lion Chief Ene Okpo-Ene Ita for the kind gesture, stating that his act of goodwill resonates well with the ministry’s “adopt a school for development” policy, which according to him aims to encourage individuals and corporate organizations to embark on similar projects in the education sector.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Director of Planning and Projects in the ministry, Mr Augustine Ekereke, affirmed that the renovation of the classroom block was a further demonstration of what the Lions Club International represents which is to serve humanity.
Similarly, the Acting Chairman of SUBEB, who was represented by the Director of Planning and Projects, Mrs Caroline Asikpo-Edet, commended Chief Ita for his commitment towards educational development, adding that “this project will assuage the very undaunted effort of government to see that all public primary schools are renovated to meet up with international standard.”
The SUBEB chief therefore promised that the school would be provided with modern desks in the next intervention that would be carried out across the state. She also announced that another classroom block would be built in the school to cater for the population of the community.
On his part, High Chief Okon Edet Otu, Clan Council Secretary of Adiabo Ikot Mbo Otu, who stood in for the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi-Otu V, conveyed the gratitude of the people to the President of Calabar Tinapa Lions Club and all members of Lions Club International for making the community proud through their initiative.
In their separate remarks, the Head Teacher of the school, Dr Sampson Ikpeme and the Village Head of Esine-Ufot Adiabo, Chief Okon Otu Inok, expressed their gratitude to Lions Club International and also used the opportunity to appeal to the state government to establish a secondary school in the community.
Also in attendance was a representative of the Commissioner representing Cross River State in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Rt. Hon. Orok Duke.
Highlights of the event were the commissioning of the renovated classroom block by the District Governor of Lions Club International District 404A, Lion Charles Itu; presentation of a Letter of Commendation to Chief Ene Okpo-Ene Ita by SUBEB and the distribution of school uniforms to pupils of the school.
