Governor Obiano commends Oba Emelie Okika for supporting Education

www.odogwublog.com reports that Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has commended the investment in education by an illustrious son of Nri, Anaocha council Area, and Chairman Emelia Okika Empowerment Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization, Chief Emelie Okika.

Governor Obiano’s commendation came from the Chairman of the Anambra state Post Primary School Services Commission, PPSSC, Lady Joy Ulasi.

  Announcing the results of the foundation’s 2017/2018 quiz competition by all the 16 Secondary Schools in Anaocha during the inauguration of the foundation, the Chairman of the Anambra state Post Primary School Services Commission, PPSSC, Lady Joy Ulasi represented by Mrs Esther Anolue commended Chief Emelie Okika for his unique scholarship scheme and schools quiz competition which she said was rare.

 She commended his good spirit in championing infrastructural development at public schools by partnering government even as she urged him not to relent.

She encouraged the students to take their studies serious always, commending the good spirit of the students both Science and Arts for performing creditably. She announced Girls Secondary School Agulu as first, Bubendorff Memorial Grammar School, Adazi-Nnukwu as 2nd and Agulu Girls High School as 3rd while Lorretto Special Science School Adazi Nnukwu came 4th and Community Secondary School Akwaeze came 5th in Sciences. In Arts, she announced Flora Azikiwe Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Neni as 1st , Community Secondary School Agulu as 2nd , Orjiakor Memorial Secondary School Adazi Ani as 3rd while Community Secondary School, Aguluzoigbo as 4th.

Speaking about the foundation earlier, its secretary, Barr Anike Raphael Nkem traced the history of the NGO and its rules and regulations as a registered organisation, commending the founder for his foresight in championing the course of down trodden.

But elucidating on that , the Coordinator of Oba Emelie school scheme and a Trustee of the Emelie Okika Scholarship Foundation, Mr Anayochukwu Agbata announced that Oba Okika has helped so many in the country particularly South-Eastern Nigeria and that over One point Nine Million naira (N1.9 Million was spent in 2016/2017) Academic year on scholarship to 18 students across South-East. He said since 2004 , Oba Okika has been assisting Regal Secondary School Nri in its infrastructure upgrade to the tune of about One Million naira.

Over One Million naira (N1,000,000) was spent on the annual quiz competition with the first position going home with Two Hundred Thousand naira, (N200,000) each for Science and Arts  and second position going home with One Hundred thousand naira (N100,000) while the third position went home with Fifty thousand naira (N50,000) even as Twenty (20) other students got consolation prizes for their participation.

Meanwhile, a cross section of Community Leaders, Students and women in Anaocha , Anambra state in particular and South-East at large at the weekend commended the selfless service of Chief Emelie Okika, Chairman Emelia Okika Empowerment Foundation, a Non-Governmental  Organization in the last 10 years spread across South East.

The stakeholders spoke during the inauguration of over One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000.00) Endowment Trust worth Oba Okika Foundation for academic upliftment and skill acquisition of talented but poor children across South East but particularly in Anambra state at Nri Civic Center , Nri , Anaocha local government area, Anambra state.

The Oba Emelie Okika Foundation core aims include granting of scholarship to qualified indigent students; promoting quality and gender sensitive education in the coverage areas; building up an intellectual capacity and securing access to best academic centers in the international level for young people; and assisting students continue their studies by providing scholarship, grants and educational materials for better success.

Others aims are providing grant facilities and material helps for education, training and care to persons who are physically and mentally challenged and assisting development of gifted children and capable young people by providing equal opportunities based exclusively on their professional skills and sponsoring their education , professional training and creative development.

The Stakeholders asked Oba Emelie Okika to concentrate more in his state though he has South East in mind, noting that his good deeds to mankind would be blessed by God.

For a woman in Nri, Mrs Fransisca Offoredu, Oba Okika is the best thing that has happened to widows , challenged people and poor school children as well as other less privileged in the society as he has continued to show that he is a good man. He is a good man and we love him as he loves us.

Some students, Asuquo Ephraim Samuel from Agulu Grammar School; Joe-Ikeorah Jennifer Girls High School Agulu ; Okafor Marry-Cynthia from Lorretto Special Science School Adazi Nnukwu and Ugwube Ujunwa from Flora Azikiwe Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Neni , Oba Okika remained the best thing that has happened to humanity particularly students of poor parentage in South East particularly Anambra state , urging him not to relent in giving to humanity selflessly as only God will reward his philanthropy. The Students who were shocked at the commitment of Okika foundation to the future of young ones, prayed God to replenish him and grant him good health and life to do more.

For Oba Chigozie Kelvin Obiaegbunam, the President General of Nri Development Union and Chief Launcher, Oba Okika’s traits and lifestyle is a dream come true for the Nri people, Anambra state and South-East sequel to his unconditional charity and philanthropy. He described him as a charismatic leader waiting to blossom, if given support and solidarity since his singular act of giving hope to the young ones especially the needy and hopeless unconditionally is immeasurable. He asked the students to make judicious use of the school materials donated to them. He applauded the wife Mrs Ngozi Maureen Okika for her motherly support and being a morale booster.

Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), Anambra state, Sir Norbert Obi represented by Pastor Emma Adibe, Anaocha local government Chairman, and Engr Ikeobi Ejiofor was represented by Chijioke Onyemetelu lauded Oba Okika for the empowerment initiative.

Wife of the founder of Emelie Okika foundation, Mrs Ngozi Maureen Okika, although she did not speak but her expression throughout the event was that a fulfilled woman who indeed supported the outing entirely without reservation.

In his speech, Chairman Emelia Okika Empowerment Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization, Chief Emelie Okika, said the foundation is targeted at giving life a meaning which is its motto, and to be a leading Non-Governmental Organization targeting for a better life for youths with academic potentials and skills through annual quiz competition, workshops and training programmes while asking for partnership from government, other NGO’s and private organizations as well as individuals.

According to the Chairman of  the  foundation,  Emelie  Okika   who described   the  effort and achievements as a ' dream come true ',  helping  the indigents  and less privileged  in our society  to gain access  to good  and quality  education  and skill  acquisition  through  scholarships and grants has been his dream project having come from abject poor background and God saw him through.