Several Rivers State
students on state government scholarship have emerged as leaders, as they were elected as prefects in high brow secondary schools in Nigeria. Their emergence as leaders in their various schools showed that they possess good leadership skills, excellent academic ranking and high social standing among their peers, inspite of their humble background from rural and semi-urban areas in Rivers State.
No doubt, their impeccable strides in learning and character earned them votes of the fellow students in keenly contested elections through which they emerged as prefects to serve in various capacities in their respective schools. Interestingly, these peculiar students are current beneficiaries of Governor Chibuike Amaechi initiated-scholarship programme, Greater Horizon Opportunities Programme (GHOP) – a programme funded by the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and partly implemented by Development & Leadership Institute (DLI).
These students have made the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi proud in return for priority investment in human capital development through the scholarship programme. The GHOP was designed to broaden the horizon of the Rivers Child by creating access for talented but impoverished rural and urban slum beneficiaries to have quality education in topmost secondary schools across the country.
In 2007, on assumption of office, Governor Amaechi was appalled by the low quality of education and social exclusion triggered by poverty and limited opportunities for brilliant students from rural areas. He immediately swung into action by initiating a scholarship programme that offered instant opportunities for 123 students from the 23 Local Government Areas in Rivers State. These exceptional students were selected through a three-level comprehensive examination and sent to topmost secondary schools across the country.
The excellent performance of these students across the various secondary schools has been remarkable. They have consistently out-shone their contemporaries who attended elite primary schools. The fact is proven by the numerous outstanding awards in academics and sports won by them over the years.
On various occasions, the parents have expressed their heartfelt appreciation to Governor Amaechi for this wonderful gesture of providing an opportunity where their children and wards will live and learn together with the children of the wealthy in the society.
In Archdeacon Brown Educational Center (ABEC), Port Harcourt, Faith Obimba emerged as Head Girl while in Bells Secondary School, Ota, Chibuzor Odili was elected as Head Boy; Cecilia Mbee (Social Prefect), Emmanuel Jumbo (Food Prefect Boys), Angela Martins (Food Prefect Girls), Beatrice Benibo (Library Prefect) and Christaina Israel as Labour Prefect.
At the White Dove Secondary School, Lagos, Nkiru Pius emerged as Head Girl, Richman Jumbo (Head Boy), Merit Nwankwo (Sports Prefect Girls), Chimecha Mathew (Sports Prefect Boys), Sampson Nwobodo (Dining Hall Prefect) and Precious Roy as Chapel Prefect.
Dowen Secondary School, Lagos was not left out as Micheal Euphoris emerged as Head Girl, Eric Brown (Assistant Head Boy), Etiplanapu libi Bruce (Punctuality Prefect Girls), Justus Chukwe (Punctuality Prefect Boys), Obulor Chukwuka (Labour prefect Boys), Dokubo Catherine (Labour Prefect Girls), Nwamaoku Eunice (Social Prefect Girls) and Gibson Esther as Social Prefect.
At Brooke Stone Secondary School, Port Harcourt; Mary Monday (Dining Hall Prefect girls), Peter Woke (Dining Hall Prefect Boys), Ulee Teabah (Chapel Prefect), Faith Okwele (Welfare prefect).
Also, at Chrisland Secondary School, Lagos, Upadi Emeyi won as Assistant Sports Prefect, Victor Edugbom as Library Prefect for Boys and Stella Ntieren as Library Prefect for Girls.
Vivian Fowler Memorial Girls Secondary Schools was equally not left out, as Precious Amadi became Library prefect, Blessing Igakeh (Social Prefect) and Beauty Ofoegbu (Hostel Prefect).
At Olashore International Secondary Schools, Ijesa, Osun State, Tamunonengi came out as Academic Prefect.
More importantly, the students have continuously shown appreciation to the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) for exposing them to quality education by regularly acknowledging the fact that this rare opportunity has expanded their horizon and greatly positioned them for more opportunities in the future.

Tonye Nria-Dappa