A former member of the House of Representatives and Senatorial aspirant in the 2019 elections, Hon. (Prince) Ned Nwoko has commended the Anioma Youths Network for Development (AYND) for freely providing school materials to indigent students and pupils of communities in Delta North Senatorial District as part of the child education initiative of its founder cum convener; Mr. Odita Sunday.
Speaking as the Chairman at the 2nd Edition of AYND Back to School Programme which held at Onicha – Ugbo, Delta State at the weekend, Nwoko who was represented by Chief Cal Nwawolo, said that AYND ably led by Mr. Odita Sunday; a senior journalist with the Guardian Newspapers, has demonstrated to the public that somebody with a good heart did not need to be politically motivated before opting to assist the less privileged in the society.
He commended the AYND convener for taking the initiative to lessen the burden imposed on parents by poverty in Delta North. Nwoko, a philanthropist, therefore, challenged political leaders and those aspiring for public offices to take a cue from what AYND was doing and divest themselves of any selfish intentions.
At the event which held at Onicha – Ugbo playground, no fewer than 120 indigent students and pupils in secondary and primary schools in Delta North Senatorial District benefitted from the 2018 edition of Back to School project; the maiden edition of which was held in 2017 at the same venue by AYND.
The beneficiaries; a good number of whom are orphans were presented with school bags, notebooks, textbooks, mathematical sets, dictionaries, and other materials, in a colorful ceremony well attended by people from different communities in Delta North and some well-wishers from outside Delta State.
In his welcome speech, the AYND convener and national coordinator, Odita Sunday , said he was personally, “not driven by political intentions or pecuniary gains but rather by passion and the fact that as a child, I suffered so much deprivation as I grew up without a mother as I lost my mother very early in life.
“AYND does not receive fund from the government or any donor agencies, this year’s edition of the Back to School Programme is solely dependent on my personal effort as no funds were sourced from politicians or any other quarters.”
Odita , used the forum to call on government, development agencies, well placed individuals and organisations to assist in any way they could afford to provide for the less privileged in the society, stressing that “education is the only thing that can liberate children of the poor in our society and education becomes interesting for kids and teenagers when you make academic tools available to them.”
The Onicha –Ugbo monarch, His Royal Majesty Agbogidi Victor Chukwumalieze, who was represented by one of his chiefs, Alex Okoh-Odi (the Iyase Agba) praised the efforts of AYND and the convener Odita in particular for taking the challenge to bring smiles to the faces of the less privileged in his locality, not because he had enough to do so, but for the love of humanity.
Speaking in the same vein, the Ihama of Onicha – Ugbo, Chief Madu Nwayobuije , well known in the community for his philanthropic disposition said, he never had the opportunity of furthering his education as a child, but had always been glad to associate with any effort to assist the less privileged to acquire some education as God has continued to bless him through his chain of businesses.
He pledged to assist AYND with the sum of N500,000 towards the Programme. The Ihama had similarly participated in the maiden edition of the programme in 2017.
A member of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, who represents Aniocha North was glad to identify with the activities of AYND as he was also present at the 2017 edition of the programme. While advising students and pupils who benefitted from the largest, to emulate the humble gesture of the group and its convener, the law-maker challenged other well-meaning indigenes of Delta North to key into the project.
Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Peace Building and former Chairman, Aniocha North Local Government Area; Mr. Jaunty Okwudi , also spoke in the same vein, paying tribute to AYND for daring to embark on a project most privileged people including those in the political class were reluctant to undertake except for the sake of seeking political favor.
Delta State Commissioner of Police was also not left out in associating with the AYND’s project as he assisted with no less than 200 notebooks and other materials which were presented on his behalf by the Police Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, Andrew Anamika; a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The police commissioner had similarly donated books to AYND during the 2017 edition of the programme.
The Commander in charge of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abba Kyari; a Deputy Commissioner of Police, who was expected as the Special Guest of Honor at the occasion was unavoidably absent. He was, however, represented by one of his officers who conveyed his message of support to AYND, stressing that the project should be supported by all lovers of humanity.
