Says No Child Deserves to Go to School with Polythene Bag
By Uzo Ugwunze
It was jubilation, amazement and excitement across the 45 public primary schools in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State as over 15,000 pupils received free school bags each from the Hamilton and Thelma Ezeonu Foundation.
The distribution of free school bags took place across the 45 public primary schools of the seven communities that make up the Idemili South. The communities include Nnobi, Nnokwa, Awkaetiti, Alor, Akwuukwu, Oba and Ojoto.
The multi million naira project which was sponsored by High Chief Hamilton Ezeonu (Ikemba Nnobi) and his wife Thelma Ezeonu commenced on Tuesday 4th at Obi Memorial Primary School Nnobi and ended on Thursday 6th November, 2025 at Uruene Primary School, Ojoto.
Addressing pupils at Umuezegbogu Primary School Okuzu- Oba, Dr Thelma Ezeonu reiterated that the goal of the Non- Government Organization and apolitical Foundation was to ensure that no child in Anambra State goes to school using Nylon bags to carry his or her books.She noted that it will help to protect learners’ books and other learning materials from getting destroyed and also bring succour to their parents.
“We are on a mission, ‘1 Child 1 School bag’. We don’t want to see any child in Anambra State going to school with a Nylon bag just because the parents could not afford a school bag.,” said Ezeonu.
“You know that we are all one, brothers and sisters from Idemili South and Ndi Anambra. I am saying this because if someone is well positioned, the person should remember his relatives from any part of Anambra. Nnobi and Oba are relatives, if God blesses you tomorrow try and help anyone you can wether from Oba, Nnobi or any part of Anambra State.
“Hamilton and Thelma Ezeonu Foundation are into many things, giving back to the society but this month we decided to remember children and support your education.
“We are here to sensitize you on the importance of Education. Let nobody tell you that Education is not really necessary.
“For you to be smart you need to study. The only difference between a dunce and a brilliant pupil is that the later takes his studies seriously. If that pupil that takes last position in class decides to start reading his books, he
starts taking first positions in class.
“To support your education, our foundation has decided on mission ‘One child one bag’ for you to put your books, pencils and pens. Study your books at home to assimilate better what your teachers taught you in school.
“Ikemba Nnobi will return next year to give you more support if you do very well in your academics,” she said.
Moreover, the Hamilton & Thelma Ezeonu Foundation has been empowering economically disadvantaged individuals. The foundation is currently at the 7th phase of providing succour and cash support to men and women in the society.
At Ugwube Primary School, Oba, Community Primary School, Akwuukwu, Oganiru Primary School, Ojoto, the trio of Mrs Nkechi Mozie, Mrs Edozie Lucy Ann, Mrs Rose Onwumelu respectively revealed that their schools had never experienced such kind of gesture where every single child present in school received a gift of such magnitude from an individual, group or foundation saying that the parents whose children come to school with Nylon bags or clutching their books because of poverty will heave a sigh of relief.
Pupils from United School Alor, Chidubem Ude, Central School Oba, Chimuanya Pius, United primary school Umuogali Oba, Awoh Uloma after prayers for God’s blessings, profusely thanked Hamilton and Thelma Ezeonu Foundation for remembering the school children, pledging that they will be more serious with their educational pursuit in order to compel the Foundation to return next year with more incentives as they were challenged.
More photos from the event:
