The Member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement, Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem Ph.D, has commenced the distribution of 30,000 free exercise books to pupils and students of primary and secondary schools across Ukanafun and Oruk Anam Local government areas.
This is part of Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem’s Back-to-School Initiative, which covers distribution of exercise books, text books and other essentials to primary and secondary school students, as well as payment of bursaries and scholarships to students of institutions of higher learning.
Setting the tone for the event, Coordinator of the Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem back to school programme, Comrade Sylvester Ebong, emphasized that twenty primary schools and twenty secondary schools were carefully chosen across Ukanafun and Oruk Anam Local Government Areas to benefit from the initiative, adding that the educational materials will be evenly distributed, to ensure that every pupil or student deserving of the gift, will not miss out.
Speaking at the launch of the programme, which took place at his Ukanafun residence, Rep. Idem, who was represented by the MD/CEO PIKK Master Hotels and Suites, Elder Bassey Essien, noted that the initiative aims to further promote and strengthen the advancement of quality education in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.
“This modest effort is also aimed at reducing the burden of buying back-to-school materials on parents, especially the less privileged.”
“It is also in fulfillment of our educational advancement scheme, part of which includes payment of bursaries to students and award of scholarships to deserving ones to study across the country and abroad.”
Other stakeholders who spoke at the event, praised Rep. Idem for the initiative, stressing that it will go a long way to relieving parents and guardians of the financial burden of acquiring the items for their children.
Present at the brief launch of the Rt. Hon. Unyime Idem back-to-school initiative were Supervisors of Education in Ukanafun and Oruk Anam Local Government Councils, Local Education Authority officials, principals, head teachers, students and pupils, among others.