The Agbonchia
Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State is now in a joyous mood following steps by some of its indigenes towards giving indigent students of the area greater educational opportunities.
The occasion was the inauguration of foundation for the promotion of University and Technical Education in the community. The foundation christened after late Chief (Sir) John Okparaji Obele(JP), which has all his thirteen (13) children as trustees, also gave maximum advantage to female members of the community in their educational pursuit.
Late Chief (Sir) John Okparaji Obele(JP) was the paramount ruler of Agbonchia before his death in 2010. He was an educationist and a promoter of girl-child education not only in Agbonchia his immediate community, but the entire Eleme Local Government Area.
His avowed commitment to the Girl-Child Education, it was gathered, was responsible for the quality education given to all his daughters among who is the current c airman of the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) Onene Osila Obele-Oshoko.
A copy of the biography made available to The Tide indicates that the late chief taught for 16 years in both primary and secondary schools before being absorbed into the mainstream civil service.
While in the civil service, he was said to have held positions such as administrative officer housing matters, Secretary to Departmental Selection Board, Executive Secretary Rivers State Tourism Board, Pioneer Executive Secretary and Deputy Rivers State and Stadium Authority and later as Principal of the Staff Development Centre Port Harcourt.
Children of the late John Okparaji Obele, in recognition of their father’s great strides, especially in the education sector were of the view that time has come for a foundation that will promote the core values of their father, especially, in the promotion of the girl-child education in Agbonchia . At a meeting in Port Harcourt recently the children of the late Chief reeled out objectives of the foundation to include an annual scholarship for indigent students of Agbonchia; five students for University and two for technical training.
According to them, the areas of emphasis would be law, medicine, engineering, accountancy and economics; for the technical field, the foundation would give more emphasis to indigenes of the community wishing to go into pipe-fitting and welding.
It was also revealed that out of the five undergraduate scholarships to be awarded by the foundation, three are for female candidates.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen during the meeting the chairman of the foundation, Dr Princewili Olungeonwi Suny Obele said that apart from keeping the memories of their father alive, the Foundation is to give back to the society what the family has received.
Dr. Obele also said that the situation would make the Agbonchia Community and the entire Eleme to continue to feel the impact of their father even though he is no more physically present with them. By this, the late educationist would continue to train Agbonchia sons and daughters for a very long time to come.
He explained that beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme who must be indigent students of Agbonchia must study in Nigerian public universities. According to him “they must be people of strong character and must not be found wanting in any way. They must not be found to be members of any secret cult. They will constantly be monitored to ensure that they keep to the tenets for which the scholarship was awarded to them”.
He also ruled out favouritism during the selection process, noting that the process would be conducted in a transparent manner that would be devoid of sectionalism, as every candidate will be subjected to the same clear terms for selection.
Dr Obele also said that the success of the scheme in the next few years will determine its extension to cover other communities in Eleme.
Osila said that as the first female graduate in Agbonchia and first female chartered accountant in Eleme Local Government Area, her father has set a record in the community as far as Girl-Child Education is concerned. She said that the family would continue on that line through the encouragement of women education in the community.
The children listed-some benefits the programme would bring to the community to include boosting education with a view to increasing development through skilled labour and reducing poverty in the area. The widow of Late Chief John Obele, Lady Beatrice Ochen Obele who is the grand- matron of the Foundation described the charity as a necessary ingredient for the promotion of quality education in the community.
Lady Obele who herself is an educationist said that gone are the days when a woman’s place is only in the kitchen, stressing that her husband during his life time was a promoter of Girl-Child Education.
The Sir (Chief) John OkparajiObele(JP) Foundation is a good one and must be supported to achieve set objective especially if others sharing same aspiration join hands to broaden the scope for more impact.
Also speaking, vice chairman of the foundation, Engr Abey –Obele said that the programme which takes off from the next academic session will be carried out by a panel that would comprise of all personalities in the area.
Engr Abey-Obele said that the family would ensure that the scheme is properly funded with a view to achieving its set target.
On the benefits of the scheme to the area, he said that it would improve education and the socio-economic standard of Agbonchia and other Eleme communities.
According to him, the beneficiaries who must be indigent students of Akpajo will be thoroughly screened to ensure that they are people who are good both in academic and in character.
Engr. Abey-Obele further said that apart form promoting academic excellence, the scheme would also check youth restiveness as more youths in the area will acquire useful skills that will improve their condition.
He further explained that the foundation will set a high standard both in the scholarships and the technical field and advised would be beneficiaries to take their learning seriously.
Some indigenes of the community who spoke to The Tide on the issue thanked the siblings of late Chief John Okparaji Obele for inaugurating a scholarship in memory of their fathers in the community.
According to elder Sunday Jah, the scheme will enable the people of Agbonchia to acquire the necessary skills that will improve the conditions of the community.
Elder Jah described the late paramount ruler as a great man whose influenced has touched every families of Agbonchia and commended the children for following in the foot steps of their father.
He also advised the youths of the community by law abiding, noting that success does not just fall from his area as everyone has to work for it.
Across section of the people who also spoke on the issue described the foundation as a good one that must be supported to achieve set objective especially if others sharing same aspiration join hands to broaden the scope for more impact.
The Dean of St Stephen’s Cathedral, Bonny, the Very Revd Richard I. Hart with other dignitaries presenting the first position trophy to the winning school – Spring Foundation College, Bonny.