By Andrew Udeh
Why Rotary President Aghazu Amplified Akaboezem Schools’ Distress Call
The current President of Nnewi Urban Rotary Club, Rtn Obiora Aghazu, has explained reason for carrying the media along while visiting Akaboezem Community Schools, Uruagu – Nnewi, Anambra State. In an exclusive interaction with the Press shortly after the visit at Nnewi Hotel and Event Center, Rtn Aghazu, aka Ifenkirichukwu, said the visit had to be publicised in the social and print media to give it the necessary attention expected by other relevant stakeholders.
“The media coverage approval became necessary because of its scope and what we intend to achieve after the visit, ” he stated.
“The necessary intervention being expected deserves wide publicity, not just in Nnewi Urban, but within the stakeholders of Rotary worldwide.”
He said that before now, the club had been doing so many charity works quietly, but recently decided to involve the media in order to promote our visit to Akaboezem Community schools. We have been doing quite a lot in assisting the community dwellers without making it public, but we have decided to make this visit a public knowledge due to the nature of their needs.”
He said that before now, Rotary club had visited the Motherless Babies Home Nnewi and interacted with the kids staying there.
The Rotary President expressed great concern over their observation, saying that their experience have informed them on what to do to assist the schools. “We went there to have good assessment of the schools’ needs as well as what they require to be a standard school. Already, we have supplied reading materials like exercise books, chalks, school bags, pens and pencils to those in primary school who are in desperate need. Our presence, no doubt, have offered them hope and confidence of better tomorrow.”
He promised to use his position to engage appropriate stakeholders who will make the rehabilitation exercise possible. He said that there is need to upgrade these schools – Nursery, Primary, Secondary Schools – to fit into proper education system in Nnewi, Anambra and Nigeria in general. He described Rotary social work as laudable chance for the kids who really need education but cannot afford the cost of funding. “This is our basic concern, education for all had been our major priority.”
The current state of Akaboezem schools were quite bad with critical infrastructure gaps here and there. From the classroom facilities and learning environment, the primary school section looked abandoned and forgotten.
Rtn Aghazu reacted: “Honestly, I’m not impressed with what we observed there. However, no one is to be blamed because it is a public school. We have assessed the place, put heads together to save the schools from further decay. And, for the fact that I don’t have a child schooling there does not exclude me from showing concern; the level of neglect is too touchy and backward. We saw primary school without ceiling, water facility and toiletries are broken down. These are the basic maintenance issues, which must be replaced for the kids to enjoy good reading environment. Indeed, the condition of the schools have gone beyond mere rehabilitation, to total overhauling if the buildings would be for the upcoming kids.”
Responding to the good gesture showered on their school, Mrs Jane Chioma Mbonu, the Primary School Headmistress, felt overwhelmed with joy, saying that only God will reward Rotary Club for remembering them.. Mrs Nnedi Okafor, the Principal of Akaboezem Community Secondary School, also praised Nnewi Urban Rotary Club for coming to their aide, adding that it will bring positive changes to the schools. She welcomed the idea of establishing Rotaract Club in the school, saying that the idea will impact positively on the school children.
“The moment they imbibe the rules and regulations of Rotary Club, their character will be remould including other accruing benefits.”
