A UK-based Nigerian scholar, Mr Innocent Udoidiong, has said that disturbing pictures posted on social media, where students sat on bare floors to receive lessons, informed his decision to donate 40 dual-seater desks each to one secondary school and three public primary schools in Akwa Ibom State.
Udoidong, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State who made the donation through his foundation, Udoidiong Foundation, said that the move is aimed at tackling poor sitting infrastructures in the affected schools.
Speaking through Mr Joseph Ekpo, the National Coordinator of the Foundation, during the presentation of the desks at the Government Primary School, Ikot Akpan Okop, on Friday, Udoidiong said the gesture was in a bid to improve the condition of learning for students in the affected schools.
He decried the poor state of learning facilities in the schools and pledged to intervene subsequently through collaboration with well-meaning individuals and organisations.
The schools include Secondary Grammar School, Upenekang, Ibeno Local Government Area; Government Primary School, Ikot Akpan Okop, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area; St. Mary’s Practicing School, Ediene Abak, Abak Local Government Area; and Government Primary School, Aka 1, Uyo, the state capital.
He said the “gesture is not an eye service but in a bid to improve the condition of learning for pupils and students in the benefitting schools. There were disturbing news reports and pictures on social media about some of the schools where pupils sat on the floor to receive lessons.”
Receiving the desks, the Head-teacher of the Government Primary School, Aka 1, Mrs Emem Akpan applauded Mr Udoidiong for his effort and passion to come to the aid of the pupils, noting that it was the first time a private individual donated such items to the school.
According to her, it was a worrisome situation since she was posted to the school on March 5, 2021, adding that all the blocks were vandalised by hoodlums while children in some classes sat on the floor.
“It was two weeks ago that I saw a young man coming to this school to make an enquiry about the fate of this school, that they saw on social media how the pupils were sitting on the bare floor. He is not staying here with us. All the way from overseas, he sent money for the desks to be constructed for us.”
Also speaking, the Education Secretary, Uyo Local Education Authority, Mr Imo Umoh, said the government has not neglected the school, saying the poor state of facilities in the school was a result of incessant attacks by vandals.
