Recently, communities in Awo-Omamma especially the people of Ofekata II in Awo-omamma ward in Oru East local government Area of Imo State came out in their large numbers to applaud the socially responsible deeds of Nigeria Breweries PLC.
The colourful event was commissioning and handing over of a state-of-the-art six classroom block with well stocked library with the approved required text books as prescribed by the Ministry of Education. The classrooms are well equipped with comfortable seats that appear strong to stand the vitality and hyperactive nature of the age bracket of the pupils. The donating organization also was through to have ensured that the learning facility is not in lack of sanitary facilities so as to ensure that the pupils answer calls of nature in a modern facility with water for proper hygiene.
The presence of the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere accompanied by other high profile officers of the Government of Imo State gave the occasion the deserving prestige and importance depicting the true place of education in the policies of Owelle Rochas Okorocha led rescue Mission Administration.
<
On arrival, Imo Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere was welcome by the Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigeria Breweries PLC, Mr. Kufre Ekanem and his colleague, the Public Affairs Manager (South), Mr. Isaac Nwabuzor where he was lectured on the safety policy of the company before conducting him round the factory for his appreciation of a state-of-the-art brewing department.
At Ubachima Primary school where the main event held, it was a different public as the beneficiary communities rolled out drums with masquerades, cultural troupe while the direct beneficiaries who are the pupils of the school. The occasion created an atmosphere where corporate tradition and niceties intermingled with beautiful culture of the people.
In his address, Prince Madumere first commended Nigerian Breweries for their organizational tradition, which boasts of world best practices and for placing high premium on safety. He particularly extolled the beverage industry for making such a huge investment in the State, which has employed more Imolites directly and indirectly.
The highpoint of the event was the commissioning and formal hand-over of the school block built in Ofekata II, Ubachima primary by the number two citizen of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere after receiving the keys from the representative of the company, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, which the Deputy Governor handed over to the permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Ekeanyanwu.
Prince Madumere while urging the Headmaster of the school to ensure they manage the new building with utmost care, he called on other well-meaning Nigerians to borrow a leaf from Nigeria Breweries and show care to either their host community or their immediate environment.
Speaking further, he enumerated the effort of the government in the area of education to ensure that the future of every Imo child is secured. He said the free education policy of the government is one policy thrusts that requires a lot of sacrifices but certainly will do the State, which he said the main gain may not be immediate but will certainly make a bright future the State and her citizenry. He explained that free education policy of Imo state is an all-inclusive paradigm to ensure that specially endowed children are discovered despite their poor background and to also put every child on equal footing.
He also used the opportunity to urge the teachers and school management to pay serious attention to the performance of the children in their classwork while promising that the government will continue to play its role to ensuring that their welfare is not in lack.
In his address, the Corporate Affairs Adviser of the company thanked Governor Okorocha for sending no less a person than his deputy, Prince Eze Madumere who he described as a great leader. He however expressed the companies high regards of the Rescue Mission government for placing premium in human capacity building through education. He said that it was in appreciation of this rare effort that they chose to complement its effort by investing in education.
He charged the children to take their studies seriously so as to be truly future leaders. He said Nigerian Breweries does not joke with its host communities, revealing what they have been able to do to affect the lives of its immediate environment positively especially in the area of provision of drinking water to the communities so as to make life easy for them. He also charged them to manage whatever the company has provided for them well so as to invest available resources in other projects than in repairs.
Speaking for the people of Umuejika Community in Ofekata II, Awo-omamma, Mr. Pius Orji, Secretary of the CGC expressed gladness for the kind gesture from the Nigerian breweries and promised to continue to ensure that there is peace in the community to enable them do their businesses without any hitches. He however called on the establishment to do more and to listen to them whenever they call on them. He further commended Owelle Rochas Okorocha administration for making education free.
He described education as the best gift any government can ever bequeath to its citizenry. They promised to do all within their power through the Community Government Council to ensure are intact and not vandalized by vandals.
The pupils in appreciation made several heartfelt presentations in appreciation of Governor Okorocha’s effort in giving them education to secure their future and the future of the State and Nigeria at large.
