Boost for education in Edo community

Education in Uhonmora-Ora community in Owan East Council Area of Edo State has received a boost when an indigene of the community, Captain Victor Iriobe donated a block of fully equipped classroom block. It was to commemorate his and his wife’s investiture as Knight of Anglican Communion by the Anglican Diocese of Sabon-Gida Ora.

GCE students being screened

The classroom block is made of fully equipped three classrooms and a modern office for the head teacher. This is in addition to 30 KVA generator the donor had earlier handed over to the primary school.

Captain Iriobe, who retired from ExxonMobil PLC, said he decided to build and equip the classrooms block just to give back to the community. According to him, his attendance of the school laid a solid foundation for his doggedness, determination and burning desire to excel in life. “It is partly to instill these virtues on these young minds that we are doing this today. So, that in future, they would remember this day, fight to excel, and be in position to come and make this type donation here.

Going back memory lane, Captain Iriobe said the school was founded by his grand father, Pa. Egunare Iriobevbudu, who was a clergy man, in 1944. He said his father, the late Mr. Herbert Iriobevbudu was to later become the headmaster of the school in 1956 after retiring from Hope Wadell Institute, Calabar.

The chairman of Owan East, Edo State, Mr. Reginald Okun, while receiving the donation, thanked the donor for the kind gesture.  He said: “When the donor was talking, he mentioned how his family has been donating things to the community. having said that, I actually think, if we have more people who are successful, who would come back to give back to the community, I think Owan West would be improve tremendously.”

On how the gesture would impact on education in the  community, the council chairman, He said: “Like we all know, education is never too much. As a council, we are trying as much as possible to provide facilities to the pupil, but this is obviously not enough. So, this will make a very great impact on the life of the younger ones. You can see how happy they look. It is going to boost their moral in terms of learning. Those are the issues and I wish we could have more like this and education of Owan West would actually go up.”

Earlier in the day, Captain Iriobe and his wife, Dr. Cahrity Iriobe, a lecturer in the University of Lagos and former publicity secretary of the National AQssociation of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), were knighted by the Anglican Bishop of Sabon-gida Ora, Rev. J.O.Akao.

Boost for education in Edo community