Corps Member Breathes Life Into Anambra Schools

Majority of the youths that came for the National Youth Service (NYSC) may not value the essence of the service year but some do. Odogwuemekaodogwu.com brings you Odogwu Obinna’s story on a corps member who understood why he came for the national service to a community in Njikoka, Nawfia.

A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Mr Ugochukwu Chukwudi Clement, set an indelible record in Awka South and Njikoka Local Government Areas of Anambra State through his community development projects in schools. 

Ugochukwu won people’s hearts when he singlehandedly reconstructed school toilet facilities, installed four water cisterns at Community Secondary School, Agulu-Awka, in Awka. He also donated 20 basic learning aids to Sun Beam Nursery and Primary School, Nawfia in Njikoka Local Government Area, four benches to the NYSC MDGs’ CDS Group in Awka South, five desks to Udoka Primary School, and organised skill acquisition training on Ankara bag making, necklace and bead making for the students of Kenneth Dike Memorial Secondary School.

He also sponsored free medical service at Isiagu community, where over 300 people were screened for sugar level and HIV/AIDS. He equally donated anti-malaria and multivitamin drugs that were distributed to people, as well as sensitization workshop on disease prevention and control.

Others include entrepreneurship and skill acquisition training using sophisticated equipment at various communities in Awka South; tiling of the floor in the main reception of the Ministry of Public Utilities, Water Resources, and Community Development, Government House, Awka; skill acquisition training on cosmetology, including bleach, liquid soap, air freshener, others at Holy Cross High School Umuawulu/Mbaukwu, and Emeka Aghasili High School, Nise both in Awka South L.G.A; designing and reconstruction of dilapidated signboard of the Ministry of Public Utilities, Water Resources, and Community Development of the Anambra State Government, Awka and the painting of her rusted entrance gate; skill acquisition training for corps members in Awka South on cosmetology; and provision of manuals on the proper/conducive way of construction and maintenance of fish pond to the Head of Service, Administrative Department, Secretariat, Awka.

Like a tireless labourer, he  also painted a classroom block at Udoka Primary School, Awka; embarked on erosion control project in Community Secondary School Agulu-Awka, special training on fish pond construction and maintenance for the villagers in the communities in Awka South, monthly general sanitation exercise in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Water Resources, and Community Development, Awka; and donation of a big notice board to the same ministry.

Deaf and dumb pupils at God’s Care Group of Schools in Awka were not left out. They tasted Ugochukwu’s goodness when he tutored them on cosmetology. He equally organized sensitization workshops on self-esteem, sex education, life building skills training, malaria control and treatment for other special students.

Officials of the National Youth Service Corps in Anambra State had a hectic time as they moved from station to station to commission these projects.

Mr Ayanda Ayorinde, the Head of Community Development Service projects, who represented the State Coordinator of NYSC in Anambra, Mrs Inyam Bassey Ekpeh, noted that the corps member touched the lives of people in positive ways, adding that he left footprints in the sands of time.

Iyanda observed that although the corps member did not serve in the school system, he saw the need to extend his services to the schools and communities where he executed life-touching projects and services.

Speaking on behalf of the school principals and head-teachers whose schools benefitted from the projects and services of the youth corps member, the Principal of Community Secondary School, Agulu-Awka, Mrs. Anthonia Agusosi, said the kind gestures by Ugochukwu had gone a long way to ameliorate the plights of the students, even as she prayed God to richly shower his blessings on him.

Also, the Sanitation Officer in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Water Resources, and Community Development in the Government House, Mrs Nwankwu who represented the programme manager (RUWASSA) in the ministry, Mr. Victor Ezekwuo noted that the corps member was dedicated to his duty throughout his service year.

Mrs Ifeoma Nwankwo from Isiagu Community, who benefitted from the free medical care services organized by the NYSC member, expressed happiness with the medical care and urged other good spirited individuals in the society to emulate the kind gesture.

Also speaking, Ifeanyi Nwokike, a student of Kenneth Dike Memorial Secondary School, Awka said the skill on cosmetology he learnt has opened a new avenue for him to make a living, as he had already ventured into the business, producing liquid soap, air freshener, perfume and others in his locality.

On the rationale behind his community development projects and services, Ugochukwu said he was motivated to take the bold step because of the various challenges facing the people in the concerned areas. He said he derives joy in adding value to the lives of people.

Ugochukwu, who bagged the NYSC award recently for his meritorious service, thanked his sponsors for making the feat possible. He praised Mr. Victor Ezekwuo, Programme Manager, Ministry of Public Utilities, Mr. Chinedu Mabunwa, Etisalat Manager, Georgie Pharmacy Awka, Mr Onuonye, Administration Officer, Head of Service, the Principal, Kenneth Dike Memorial Secondary School, Elder Afam Ndife, the Principal, God’s Care Group of Schools, and School of Deaf and Dump, Awka, Ifeanyichukwu, and Ozo Samuel Onuko, among others.

The Sun Newspaper Report