Benin city: The Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has highlighted the importance of investing in the educational development of children, calling it a commendable undertaking that merits collective support. Mrs. Deborah Osarieme, SUBEB Quality Assurance Officer, Oredo Local Government Education Authority, expressed these sentiments during a presentation of learning infrastructure to Ivbiore Primary School, Oroghene, by an alumnus, Maj. Ambrose Agho (rtd).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Agho provided the benches through his foundation, the Ambrose Agho Empowerment and Welfare Initiative, a Benin-based non-governmental organization (NGO). Osarieme praised the NGO for bolstering the government’s efforts to enhance basic education. She described the intervention as a significant investment in the future of the children and encouraged other individuals and organizations to follow this example.
Osarieme noted that the donation would not only improve the learning environment but also serve as inspiration for pupils to remember and support their alma mater in the future. She remarked, “This collaboration is good for the educational development of the pupils and the state. It will also motivate these children to remember their own schools when they grow up.”
In addition, Osarieme prayed for the donor to have greater strength and resources to continue the initiative. Mrs. Eunice Omonedo, the Headmistress of the school, also expressed gratitude to the founder for remembering his former school. She stated, “This is what we have been praying for. God Almighty will continue to open more doors of opportunity for the founder and financier of the initiative.”
Omonedo appealed for more support to further enhance teaching and learning facilities. Gloria Jacob, speaking on behalf of the pupils, thanked the donor, noting that the new desks would alleviate seating inadequacies and make learning more comfortable. “We are very happy. These chairs will help us learn better and save many pupils from sitting on the floor during classes,” she said.
Earlier in the day, Prof. Daniel Osasogie, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the initiative, explained that Agho’s donation was a way of giving back to the school that laid his educational foundation. Osasogie stated that the initiative was launched to assist vulnerable and less-privileged members of society through educational and welfare interventions. He emphasized that the founder, an alumnus of the school formerly known as St. Angela Primary School, believes the school was instrumental in his success.
The chairman added that the initiative sponsors pupils and students in primary and secondary schools through scholarship programs. He noted that the donation of classroom furniture was a step towards supporting quality education. “We also have an NGO called the Ambrose Agho Empowerment and Welfare Initiative, which was established to meet the needs of the vulnerable and the less privileged,” he said.
The donated items include 10 sets of three-seater classroom desks with attached writing surfaces, aimed at improving learning conditions.