By Magnus Emuji
As part of efforts to boost the education system, the Asaba Branch of Issele-Uku Progressive Youth Association (IPYA) has distributed over 4,000 inscribed exercise books to pupils and teachers of six public primary schools in Issele-Uku community.
The beneficiary schools are Martin Primary School, Omado Primary School, Adams Primary School, Egbune Primary School, Burr Primary School, Ogbe Utu primary school and Issele Primary School.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the distribution, the President of the Association, Asaba Branch, Mr. Felix Nwamumu said the Association was established to contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of Issele-Uku community.
Nwamumu said the Association has continued to place the educational growth of children on the front burner, noting that the distribution was aimed at supporting parents and encouraging learning.
He urged the beneficiaries to take their studies seriously and imbibe a good reading culture, stressing that education remains the bedrock of any society.
Earlier, at the palace of the Obi of Issele-Uku, HRM Obi Agbogidi Nduka JP, where the group paid a courtesy visit, the immediate past President of the Association, Pastor Emmanuel Ebegbuzie, informed the monarch of their mission to distribute writing materials to school children.
He said as the paramount ruler of Issele-Uku kingdom, it was necessary to intimate the traditional ruler of their intentions for the community and schools.
Responding, the Obi described the gesture as a welcome development, lauded the Association for its initiative and called on other well-meaning individuals and associations to emulate the gesture.
Addressing the pupils in their various schools, the Vice President of the Association, Mr. Philip Nnamdi Oseloke, said the Association had earlier visited the schools to take inventory of the pupils.
He said pupils in Primary One to Six would receive two exercise books each, while Kindergarten pupils would receive one notebook each.
In their separate remarks, the Headteacher of Omado Primary School, Mrs. Maria Banoe; Headteacher of Martin Primary School, Mrs. Nwadude M. A.; Headteacher of Egbune Primary School, Mrs. Justina Egwuwu; Headteacher of Adams Primary School, Mrs. Josephine Nwaofuanu; and Headteacher of Burr Primary School, Mrs. Nkem Veronica Esonanjor, expressed profound gratitude to the Association for investing in the lives of the children.