Catching Them Young Initiative For School Children In Ayamelum Sparks Off The Interest In Education

 First Lady Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano (Osodieme) middle with Chairman Ayamelum LGA Hon Paul Obiora on red cap with Chairperson, Ayamelum, Mrs Oluchukwu Obiorah behind HE during her visit

Wife of the Anambra state Governor , Chief (Mrs) Ebelechukwu Obiano has described the pet project of the chairperson of Ayamelum local government area, Mrs. Obiorah Oluchukwu, ‘’Catch them Young initiative’ as an ultimate supportive programme to her pet project Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ) reports Odogwu Media. 

Chief Mrs Obiano spoke during the inauguration of the scheme at Anaku, the local government Headquarters said the pet project is the ultimate and in line with the policies and programmes of the APGA administration in Anambra state led by her husband, Chief Willie Obiano. 

She reminded that the project has the capacity of stimulating greater interest in the youngsters to enable then develop interest on education which would change their lives ultimately and the lives for the people of the local government many years from now.  

‘’ This is what we are preaching with CAFÉ initiative and this is the ultimate because it is targeted at the children the future leaders of this country and the only avenue that would make that dream easier and more visible is education . I commend Ayamelum first Lady , Mrs Obiora for taking the first step and I wish this programme would be sustained.  The future is brighter for Ayamelum children and people. I charge the beneficiaries and their families to value the support to upgrade their children in line with our government desire to empower rural women , rural children and orphans and vulnerable children in our state. 

Anambra first lady Mrs Obiano represented by three of her aides , Special Assistant, Women Mobilization  Mrs Cecilia Ezii and Special Assistant, Special Duties Mrs Eyiuche Nwankwo led by her Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, media and Events , Dr (Mrs) Ify Madukasi said the government of Governor Willie Obiano’s administration is committed for the future of Anambra children as well as growth and development of the state in all ramifications.  

Obiano’s wife described the Chairman of Ayamelum as the pillar of support to his wife’s initiative and commended him for standing by her and contributing as well as initiating the supportive programmes on education.

They reminded that Obiano’s government has invested much in fighting insecurity  hence the level of security in the state now is commendable worldwide and appealed for support in that regards.

Wife of the Ayamelum Chairman, Mrs Obiorah Oluchukwu in her address said her , ‘’Catch them Young initiative’ was born out of  her husband’s love for children and selfless support he has given to teachers in the local government since assumption of office. She encouraged teachers to assist take away the children off the street by being committed and dedicated in all they do , appealing to the farmers to allow their children take advantage of the initiative to better their academic skills.

She gave out thousands of school bags , Exercise books , writing materials and cash support to the thousands of pupils to encourage them sustain interest in education.

She was so happy for the turn out especially on the Independence day celebration of thousands of pupils and students assuring them that they would not be disappointed by her and her husband.

But Hon Paul Katchy Obiora , the Executive Chairman of Ayamelum local government area on the 54^th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria celebration at the council headquarters witnessed by thousands of pupils/ students informed that he has given bursary to over 500 students which was the first time that was done in the council area. Although he did not say how much bursary, source said he gave the students ranging from N10, 000 to N50 ,000 as bursary being the first such is being done in the council area since the creation of the local government over 20 years ago.

odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports that Hon Obiora said his administration was encouraged to support the students with bursary because the future is in their hands and to step up the tempo he wife has launched catch them young initiative a scheme to mobilize the pupils and students to develop interest in education at a young age.

He said his council area was backward because of lack of education as majority were farmers and had interest in other things outside education but God has brought him with his Deputy and councilors led by the speaker to champion and stimulate interest in education in all ramifications, since it is the only tool to empower his people better.

He assured to continue to mobilize support to the catch them young scheme as a true son of the council committed and dedicated for a better course for his people, having known their problems.

He said they have noticed that children of same parentage when exposed to different climes behave differently because of level of exposure to education they have hence he vowed to expose their children to education early to enable them develop interest, adding that the financial support and schooling materials are targeted as a motivation to both parents and pupils to have interest to pursue education against all odds for their better future.

He appealed to all and sundry to assist he initiative work by supporting in fighting against children drop out and lack of interest by whatever means they could until Ayamelum children are captured in school.

Speaking , the Special Adviser to the Anambra state Governor Willie Obiano on Chieftaincy and Town Union Affairs , Hon Barr Reuben Obiajulu Udemgba decried that what he suffered during his school days still exist in this era hence his support for the catch them young initiative , pet project of the Chairperson Ayamelum Local government area, Anambra state, Mrs. Obiorah Oluchukwu.

He informed that the importance he attached to the programme made him left Abuja for his local government since he is from Umumbo community to give his support for the success of the programme as it was in line with the policies and programmes of the state Governor, Obiano and wife Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano.

Udemgba said although the Ayamelum first lady is young in administration but she is starting very strong and that as far as the needful is done that he is not envisaging any problem in carrying out her programme  and with the support from the political class in her local government. He used the opportunity to challenge the traditional rulers to continue to maintain the peace and security in their domain in order to attract development in line with the charge of Governor Obiano.

He reminded that catching them young will assist in inculcating better moral ethics especially discipline and hard work and good value system needed to prosper gracefully rather than get quick mentality. 

Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Ayamelum local government, Mr Samuel Emeka informed that the chairperson was inspired by her husband Hon Paul Obiora  who gave out N10,000 to over 5,000 people , hence the wife followed up with catch them young initiative.

Mr Emeka, a businessman and the Vice Chairman Bridgehead Market traders Association , Onitsha said the outing is to initiate the children on the need to pursue education to the highest level since that is where the future lies.

‘’it was a motivational outing for our people hence you saw people donating generously to that course. Her idea is wonderful and we want to help her catch them young and to strengthen our party APGA because there is no PDP in Ayamelum since the defection of our Member in the House of Assembly to APGA.

‘’ We are appreciative of what the local government chairman Hon Obiora

Is doing with his wife and as the chairman in the local government I am proud of them.

‘’Remember that I am the chairman of APGA and soonest elections nominations and primaries will be on and I want to be remembered as a very transparent umpire as my duty is to make sure that primary is transparently done so that if you lose you will be able to support the person who won to prosecute the election.  

On his part, member representing Ayamelum constituency in the state House of Assembly , Hon Gabriel Onyenweife  said the initiative to catch school age pupils young is apt and an extension of   Anambra First Lady’s mobilization of widows , orphans and vulnerable children to better their lives and that of their household.

Onyenweife insisted that since government is a continuum that the project will not die with the initiator as other people will buy into it and continue it after her tenure, adding that the programme is a lifelong project.

Earlier in her speech, the Chairperson Ayamelum Local government area, Anambra state, Mrs. Obiorah Oluchukwu said the Governor Willie Obiano’s administration remains the best that has happened to the eight (8) communities in the council area in terms of infrastructure upgrade, empowerment and development.

Obiorah, a former beauty queen runner up lauded the wife of the Governor, Chief Mrs Eberechukwu Obiano,  (Osodieme) for her concern for the less privileged which served as her motivation in looking the way of catching the pupils young to develop interest in education and enumerated some of the ongoing projects to include Umumbo Road; Omor – Umerum Oba Overmmiri road; Bridge at Umueje leading to oil rig at Aguleri-Otu; Water project to serve the entire council area.

She even hinted that her husband Hon Paul Obiora since assumption of office 9 months ago has attracted from the state government a lot of thing including bursary award, various appointment both state and local government as well as the Skill acquisition center which is about to take off adding that she is 100% satisfied at the level of every project in Ayamelum.

‘’My husband gave a bursary award to Ayamelum undergraduates which have not been done in the history of education in Ayamelum council area. As the first lady, I want to add colour to what he did by again embarking on the programme catch them young in the primary school for children in Ayamelum. All these are to promote education in Ayamelum.

Mrs Obiorah said Ayamelum is made up to 8 communities with 11 wards including Omor  with 3 wards, Ifite-Ogwari with 2 wards; Igbakwu with 1 ward; Omasi with 1 ward; Umueje with 1 ward Umumbo with 1 ward and Anaku with 1 ward and Umerum with 1 ward.

She said the women in her council have agreed to be supportive of the Obiano administration’s community policing by every women giving her children a good parental advice and directing them to things that will make them responsible members of the society rather than deviants.