By Ebere Suzy
The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano on Wednesday assured that the state government would continue to sustain its improved education delivery, in order to secure enviable positions for its future generations.
Obiano said this on Wednesday while inaugurating the distribution of a 40-feet container load of textbooks to 18 schools (12 primary and six secondary schools) in Ifitedunu community in Dunukofia Local Government Area, Anambra.
The textbooks were donated by Igwe Chukwuemeka Ilouno, the traditional ruler of Ifitedunu Community.
The Governor, who was represented by Mr Oseloka Obaze, Secretary to Anambra Government, noted that the state was re-strategising on how to further improve education delivery through partnerships and collaborations with institutions and individuals.
“We have recorded major milestone in our education transformation, which recent positions and statistical findings had proved that the state was getting it right in its investments in education in the past eight years.
“We will not stop at that, and now we are partnering with institutions and individuals to further improve our standard and be a state to reckon with in the country and West Africa sub-region,’’ he said.
The governor, who thanked the traditional ruler for his fore-sight, remarked that the monarch had looked beyond immediate gains and planted a future tree with these textbooks.
Earlier, Igwe Ilouno said that the textbooks were transported from the U.S. to Nigeria through partnership with Books for Africa.
He said that the textbooks would be useful for pupils and students from primary 1 to SSS 3.
Ilouno, who did not state the cost of the textbooks, noted that the potential of children within his community would be opened up through these textbooks.
“I was moved to secure these books, when I saw the need to close the gap of lack of modern and qualitative textbooks in virtually all schools in my community.
“The textbooks also included medical textbooks, which I know as a medical professional would be useful to those students who will want to emulate me and study medicine.
“I feel fulfilled doing this since I want to leave a lasting impression on my people and for them to know that my reign brought a lot of development and progress to them and our children unborn,’’ Ilouno said.
Responding on behalf of the benefiting schools, Rev. Father Christopher Azolibe, Manager of Arch-Angel Secondary School, Ifitedunu, thanked the monarch for his love and goodwill towards his people, especially pupils and students.
“Our monarch, we are assuring you that these textbooks will not just be packed in the library but our pupils and students will be compelled to read them.
‘’We would protect them jealously at all times,’’ Azolibe said.
