Education

Mission Schools: Promoting Qualitative Education

Published

15 years ago

April 9, 2012

Mrs Veronica Nwachuckwu is a resident of Onitsha, Anambra State.

Recently, she bought four long-playing videotapes on different historical subjects; so as to encourage her children to stay indoors during the approaching end-of-year holidays.

However, her gesture fails to entice one of her daughters, Chioma, a Primary 5 pupil in a mission school in Onitsha.

“Mum, I do not think I would have time for these videos,’’ she murmurs.

“Our class teacher has given us four novels to read. We are also asked to weave a basket, make some beads and carry out some quantitative reasoning exercises during our holidays.

“Our new headmaster said that henceforth, our holiday exercises, tests on them and class participatory work would form part of our continuous assessment marks for our promotion,’ Chioma says.

Mrs Nwachukwu was a bit startled by her daughter’s reaction because she has always been worried about the playfulness of her children, Chioma in particular.

But Chioma’s posture is just reflecting the emerging orientation in the schools which the Anambra State Government recently handed over to missionary groups, their erstwhile owners.

The handover was the thrust of the government’s new educational policy, aimed at resuscitating the quality of education that is characterized by sound moral training and commitment to learning.

As part of the deal, Gov. Peter Obi ceded the management of 749, out of the 1,040 primary schools in the state, to the missions, their original owners, while N6 billion was approved for the maintenance of all the primary schools.

The governor said that the N6 billion would be disbursed to the Catholic and Anglican mission schools, as well as the remaining government schools in four instalments within the next 15 months.

“The Catholic Church, which owns 453 primary schools, will receive over N762 million and the Anglican Church with 296 schools will receive N498 million, while the remaining public schools will share N489 million, in the first tranche of N1.75 billion.

“The second and third instalments will gulp N2.50 billion, while the fourth installment will cost the government N1.75 billion.

“The money is already available in the bank and it will be released to the missions within 30 days after submitting their work plans,’’ he said.

Obi, nonetheless, stressed that the work plans were expected to contain structured curricula, which, among other things, should be designed to restore social sanity among the pupils.

“Such vices like cultism, sexual immorality, kidnapping, armed robbery, hooliganism and other aberrations plaguing our society today, especially in Anambra, are some of the vices which the missions will have to wage war against in the schools.

“Let us all resolve today to be positive change agents, especially now that we have a government that is ready and willing to work with individuals who can complement government efforts to promote a better society,” he said.

Commenting on the government’s action, the Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, the Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, said that the handover of the schools to the missions was one of the most desirable government decisions ever taken in the state.

“Gov. Obi has written his name in gold; he has wiped off the tears of our people.

“The governor has rectified the anomalies of the civil war; he has rectified the fault of past leaders. With this action, the Church has forgiven the government for the forceful takeover of our schools,’’ he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, the Most Rev. Christian Efobi, the Archbishop of the Niger Province of the Anglican Communion, said that the governor’s action indicated that whenever ‘a righteous man ascend the throne, the people rejoice. “I am assuring the governor that we will continue to pray for him as he continues to make progressive decisions,’’ Efobi said.

The Federal Government is apparently in support of the Anambra State Government’s decision to return the schools to missions. The Minister of State for Education, Mr Ezenwo Wike, commended the action, describing it as capable of improving the quality of education, while reviving moral values in the schools.

“I urge other states to emulate Anambra. The handover of schools by the Anambra State Government is a step in the right direction and one that will boost the quality of education,” Wike said.

All the same, observers believe that the new partnership will certainly check moral decadence, particularly in primary schools, where pupils could be mobilised and educated to adopt positive and desirable ethics.

Prof. Emeka Okpara, the Vice-Chancellor of Renaissance University, Enugu, lauded the government’s decision to cede the management of some primary schools to the missions, saying that it would enhance the supervision of the schools’ teachers.

“With the increased supervision of the teachers, the excesses of these children would be checked and possibilities of their joining bad companies would be significantly curtailed,’’ he noted.

Okpara, nonetheless, rejected the idea that the management of all public schools should be ceded to the missions, insisting that such a proposal would be counterproductive, as it could make the cost of education unaffordable to some indigent families.

“Truly, the money the pupils pay as school fees may not be enough to engender the requisite transformation and the required level of quality in terms of moral education and school structures.

“But I hope that the Anambra State Government will not shirk its responsibility of providing qualitative education for primary school pupils since the missions would push the cost of renovating the dilapidated school structures diplomatically on the parents.

“Structurally, many public schools are in a state of disrepair. As regards instructional materials, most of the schools are 20 years backward,’’ Okpara, who is also a member National Institute for Policy and Strategic Study (NIPSS), said. However, Mr Nnamdi Nnayelugo, an 82-year-old retired headmaster, commended the government’s handover of the schools to the missions, saying that it would bolster the moral upbringing of the children.

He noted that the prevalent moral decadence in the country nowadays could be attributed to the lack of commitment by parents and communities to the youth’s upbringing.

“I recall my experience as a headmaster in the 70s; if a child erred and escaped punishment from me or my teachers, the child would not be able to totally escape being reprimanded, as the community or church that owned the school would soon report him or her to the school authorities.

“These days, children are more prone to join bad companies; and when you intervene, nobody is there to flog an errant child. Often times, the schools’ headmasters and teachers are not even around,’’ Nnayelugo said.

Expressing a similar viewpoint, Rev. Fr. Martin Onukwuba, the Coordinator of Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) in Onitsha, said that the government’s handover of the schools to the missions was a long-awaited decision.

Onukwuba said that the forceful takeover of the schools by the government was morally wrong in the first instance, stressing that it was the genesis of moral decadence in the state’s educational system.

He argued that the recent handover of the schools to their original owners would restore order and rectitude to the schools within a short time because the missions also had the powers to hire and fire teachers.

“What Gov. Obi has done is to get the churches and by extension, the community involved in the management of these schools. Through multiple checks on the teachers, the pupils’ lifestyles would be moderated.

“The Church, which holds high morality as its standard, could imbibe sound morals in these children and redeem them from experiencing the societal rot even at such a tender age.

“The Church, I know, cannot afford to fail since it entered into the agreement with the government on the schools, purely on the grounds of morality and not for profit-making purposes,’’ Onukwuba said.

Observers note a striking consensus of opinion among all stakeholders that the return of the primary schools to the missions has paved the way for a return to the glorious old days when education still had the glitters.

Nwanosi writes for NAN

Stanley Nwanosike

Education

FCT ????????????????????Residents Lament Impact Of Extreme Heat on Livelihoods, Business

Published

1 day ago

November 9, 2026

The Tide

Residents and business owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say extreme heat is harming their health, raising household expenses and disrupting businesses and livelihoods.

The residents, who spoke newsman said the intense heat had increased their dependence on electricity, water and other cooling measures, while inconsistent power supply made coping more difficult.

They said the situation had resulted in food spoilage, increased operating costs, changes in working hours and health-related discomfort, particularly among households and people whose occupations exposed them to direct sunlight.Try New Foods

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in an Oct. 23 advisory, had warned Nigerians to prepare for hotter days, increased heat discomfort, dust and possible water scarcity as the country transitions from the rainy to the dry season.

The agency identified dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke among the health risks associated with excessive heat, warning that prolonged exposure could affect people’s health and productivity.Learn Physics

To reduce heat-related risks, NiMet advised Nigerians to drink water regularly, wear lightweight and breathable clothing, and limit prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, particularly during the hottest hours of the day.

It also recommended scheduling strenuous outdoor activities for cooler periods.

In Sokale community, Bwari Area Council, Mrs Patient Ndidi said coping with the heat had become an additional financial burden, particularly as a mother trying to keep her children comfortable while managing household expenses.

“The sun was so intense that it felt as though it was draining my blood.

“Even when the children returned from school, I had to tell them to go and take their baths because the heat was so much,” she said.

Ndidi said the situation had increased her household’s electricity consumption because the family needed to run its fans for longer periods whenever power was available.

“We use more units now because whenever there is electricity, we tend to leave the fan on throughout the day.

“As a result, we are constantly recharging our prepaid meter,” she said.

She explained that inconsistent electricity supply had also made food preservation difficult, as cooked meals could easily spoil during prolonged power outages.

According to her, foods such as egusi and groundnut soup, beans and other cooked meals were particularly difficult to preserve, forcing her to prepare smaller quantities that could be consumed at once.

She said the adjustment had increased the frequency of cooking and sometimes resulted in food wastage, additional expenses and stress.

Ndidi added that when electricity was unavailable, members of her household sometimes poured water on their bodies for temporary relief.

“Actually, it has not helped us at all because once there is no electricity, you return to square one,” she said.

She called on the government to improve electricity supply and consider reducing electricity tariffs to ease the financial burden on households.

Similarly, Mr John Anthony, a resident of Kubwa, said coping with the heat was more challenging at home than in his workplace, where air-conditioning provided a comfortable environment.

“Office is not a problem at all; there is AC, so everywhere is always cool until we go home,” he said.

Anthony said his family sometimes opened their windows and doors to improve ventilation, while drinking sufficient water to cope with the heat.

He, however, urged the government to ensure stable electricity supply to enable residents to use cooling appliances.

“Government should please help us to ensure there is stable light so that we will be able to cope and it will reduce it,” he said.

Another Kubwa resident, Mr Ignatius Ikechukwu, a Point of Sale (POS) operator who works under the sun, described coping with the heat as challenging.

He said drinking sufficient water was his major strategy for managing the situation while carrying out his daily activities.

“I do not joke with water at all,” he said.

The effects of the extreme heat have also extended to traders and other business owners, particularly those dealing in perishable goods and products requiring refrigeration.

In Jikwoyi, Miss Lovina Obiyi, a trader dealing in provisions, foodstuffs and poultry, said the excessive heat had resulted in the loss of considerable quantities of poultry.

“We specialise in provisions, foodstuffs and poultry.

“Due to the heat, we have lost quite a good amount of chickens and turkeys to the point that we need to open the place for ventilation,” she said.

Obiyi stated that the heat had also influenced consumer preferences, increasing demand for cold drinks and frozen food products.

“There is a rise in the purchase of cold things. Nobody buys normal temperature water; it has to be cold water.

“When it comes to foodstuffs, people prefer frozen food rather than smoked ones,” she said.

She explained that while perishable products were preserved in freezers, tomatoes and peppers were kept in open spaces to allow ventilation, adding that goods that could no longer be salvaged were discarded.

According to her, the heat had reduced profit margins because some food items ripened faster than expected, resulting in losses.

“The heat affects a lot of things. Profit margin is low because things get spoilt a lot.

“When you keep plantain, they all get ripe at once. There is a lot of loss and risks now due to the heat and also the death of livestock,” she said.

Obiyi added that the heat had also affected her personal comfort, causing heat rashes and making it difficult to sleep without a fan.

Mr Chimezie Samuel, a business owner in Dutse, said the increased demand for cold drinks and other chilled products had created additional pressure on his business because of unreliable electricity supply.

He said customers seeking relief from the heat sometimes could not find cold drinks when power was unavailable.

Although he had not recorded significant losses from spoiled goods because most of his products were not highly perishable, Samuel said maintaining adequate cooling remained a challenge.

He disclosed that he had invested more than N1.7 million in a solar power system to keep his business running despite electricity challenges.

He urged the government to improve electricity supply, noting that the effects of extreme heat extended beyond business operations to residents’ ability to rest comfortably after work.

He also highlighted the importance of adequate water supply, saying electricity challenges could affect access to water and make coping with the heat more difficult.

For Mr Henry Chinonso, a welder and fabricator, the heat had forced changes in working hours to reduce exposure to direct sunlight.

“I come out in the morning. I rest immediately it is 12 o’clock during the hot weather. When the heat reduces, then I will start again,” he said.

Chinonso said he and his workers now suspend activities during the afternoon and resume in the evening when temperatures become more bearable.

He expressed concern that prolonged periods of extreme heat could affect work schedules, reduce customer patronage and slow productivity.

He identified adequate shade as one of the measures that could help outdoor workers cope with the situation.

Beyond its economic consequences, extreme heat has also raised concerns among residents and healthcare workers over its possible effects on health.

Mr Jeffrey Onu, a nurse at Olohi Gocho Pharmacy, Sokale, said some people visiting the facility had complained about the hot weather.

He advised residents to drink sufficient water regularly, get adequate rest and maintain good personal hygiene to reduce the risk of heat-related health problems.

Onu also urged people to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day, and to seek shade or remain in cool, well-ventilated places whenever possible.

He further advised residents experiencing skin irritation to avoid scratching affected areas and using harsh creams or skincare products that could worsen the condition.

“My advice is that in this hot weather, people should drink enough water and take their rest.

“Excessive heat causes a lot of sicknesses in the human system, some of which may not even be detected on time,” he said.

Ms Tope Ayoola, another FCT resident, said the intense heat had left her exhausted, caused excessive sweating and made it difficult to sleep comfortably at night.

“The heat is too much. It makes me feel tired and weak. I sweat a lot and I can’t sleep well at night,” she said.

Ayoola said she coped by drinking more water, staying indoors during the afternoon and taking cold baths.

She added that she had experienced headaches and heat rashes, which she attributed to the excessive heat.

Similarly, Ms Tolu Idayat said the hot weather had affected her concentration and productivity, sometimes leaving her with headaches and tiredness.

She said she coped by drinking plenty of water, wearing light clothing and bathing regularly.

Idayat appealed to the government to improve electricity supply and access to clean water, while creating public awareness on measures residents could adopt to protect themselves from excessive heat.

Mr Israel Bulus, a resident of Apo, described the hot weather as a seasonal experience to which residents had continued to adapt.

He said he sometimes took baths up to three times at night to obtain relief from the heat, adding that he remained concerned about its possible health implications.

Across the communities, residents called for improved electricity and water supply, saying reliable access to both services would reduce the financial pressure on households and businesses while making it easier to cope with extreme temperatures.

They also urged relevant authorities to intensify public awareness on heat-related health risks and practical measures to reduce exposure to excessive heart.

Education

STAKEHOLDERS LAUD RUHSOSA AS PROF WILSON, ENGR NWONODI AWARD SCHOLARSHIP TO 22 STUDENTS, PLEDGE JAMB FEES FOR SS3 STUDENTS IN AGBA-NDELE

Published

1 day ago

November 9, 2026

The Tide

Education stakeholders and leaders of Agba-Ndele community in Rundele Kingdom, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, have commended the Rundele High School Old Students Association, RUHSOSA, for it’s sustained efforts in reviving the almost moribund Rundele High School, Agba-Ndele.

The commendation came on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, during a brief ceremony at the school to officially hand over educational materials to 22 beneficiaries of the first phase of the Prof. Goddey Wilson and Engr. Chike Nwonodi Scholarship Scheme.

Materials distributed to the students included RUHSOSA-branded exercise books, textbooks, school bags, sandals and free school uniforms, among others.

President of RUHSOSA, Dr. Daniel Agbovu, who handed over the items alongside the Chairman of Agba-Ndele Community Development Committee, CDC, Chief Ishmael Anwuri and Prof. Wilson, thanked the two donors for partnering with the association.

Dr. Agbovu encouraged the teachers not to relent in impacting the students, while charging the beneficiaries and other students to take their studies seriously, recalling his own humble beginning in the same school.

He said, “Take your studies seriously. We started the way you started. I schooled here in this same school in the village because my parents didn’t have money to take me outside this community. We struggled, we read our books to become what we are today. So I pray that you will grow more than us.”

Agba-Ndele CDC Chairman and a pioneer student of the school, Chief Ishmael Anwuri, commended Prof. Wilson and Engr. Nwonodi for making the community proud through their investment in educational development.

He described RUHSOSA’s intervention in the school in less than a year of its formation as remarkable and impactful.

Chief Anwuri recalled that the school, which started as Community Secondary School, Agba-Ndele and was later renamed Rundele High School in 1984, was once ridiculed as “High Elementary School,” but has gone on to produce great leaders in society.

He advised the students not to be discouraged by their environment but to take their studies seriously, embrace self-discipline and hard work.

“When we started, those who were schooling outside were ridiculing us, saying the school we attended was High Elementary School. But we were not discouraged. Today, most of those that schooled at home here have excelled in several areas, more than many of those who schooled outside.

“Do not mind the environment you are today. Don’t be discouraged that you are schooling in Agba-Ndele. If you work hard, make use of your time, wake up in the night while others are sleeping to study your books, you will develop yourself. Education is about self-development,” he said.

Representing the school, Vice Principal, Administration, UBE, Mr. Daniel Wodo, lauded RUHSOSA for its timely intervention which he said is gradually bringing the school back to life from the brink of extinction.

“We are very happy for this development. You really surprised us and gave us hope. This school was going into extinction, gradually fading off. Last year, 2025 precisely, we had no JSS 1 students. Even until early this year we had nobody, we were afraid, we ran to the community. Thank God for the intervention of old students under RUHSOSA, your coming was timely and apt.

“I must say that your intervention has brought back hope to this school, RHS Agba-Ndele. You can see the number of new students, more people are still coming even from neighbouring communities because they are hearing about scholarship. God bless you all, especially Prof. Wilson and Engr. Nwonodi,” Wodo said.

Responding, Prof. Goddey Wilson, who spoke on behalf of himself and Engr. Chike Nwonodi, said their gesture was driven by divine mercy and the desire to give back to the school that laid their foundation.

Reflecting on his background and that of his co-sponsor and classmate, Engr. Nwonodi, who was Senior Prefect while he was Library Prefect, he encouraged the students to work hard, be serious with their studies and not to use poverty as an excuse, assuring that as poverty did not stop them, it will not limit the students either.

“If not God’s mercy, who am I that I should not be consumed? We are not the first group that graduated here, we are not the fourth or the fifth, we were not also from a rich background, but God has chosen us because of His mercy.

“Most of these old students here didn’t come from a rich background just like some of you. Chike’s father was very poor, my father was also among the poorest in the community but that didn’t stop us from being serious with our studies.

“I passed my common entrance to school at St. Aquinas but because my father couldn’t meet up with boarding house fees, I was denied. The second opportunity was at G.S.S. Abua, yet we couldn’t meet up accommodation and others. So the option became RHS Agba-Ndele. So, I started coming like any of you. And God showed mercy on me.

“What we are doing today with Engr. Chike Nwonodi is to tell you that the poverty of your parents cannot stop you. Don’t say your parents are poor, that you can’t go to school, it’s a very big lie. Like I said earlier, my father was a very poor man doing his business, but poverty in my family did not stop me. Poverty in your family will never stop you in the name of Jesus,” he said.

He frowned at attitude of both students and teachers absenting themselves from school, charging them (especially the students) to be regular in school.

“My children, listen, don’t miss school, don’t go to farm on school days. When you go back home today, tell your parents that Professor Wilson said I should not go to farm on school days. Go to farm on Saturdays, and on Sundays go to church, but Monday through Friday make sure you are in school. And when you come, make sure you learn and copy your notes,” he said.

Prof. Wilson also announced future plans, including provision of textbooks for students of other classes both in UBE (junior) and Senior Secondary levels, especially Mathematics and English textbooks by December 2026, and payment of JAMB registration fees for SS3 students who are serious with their studies.

“During our AGM meeting by December, we shall provide Maths and English textbooks for all the JSS 2, JSS 3, SS1 and SS2 students. I learnt we have about 8 to 10 SS3 students present in school today, get their names. All those who are serious with their studies in SS3 must write JAMB automatically. I will talk with Chike. If out of ten, four or five of them get admission, we have succeeded. We will then take it from there,” he said.

E-signed

EMMANUEL O. NLEWEDUM

Education

PIDOMSON UNVEILS RADICAL EDUCATIONAL BLUEPRINT DIALOGUE

Published

1 week ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State, Dr. Sir Gabriel Baritulem Pidomson, PhD, has presented his comprehensive educational blueprint as part of his 10-Point Agenda for the state.

Dr. Pidomson unveiled the blueprint on Friday during the Rivers We Want 2027 Governorship Dialogue, organized by the Center for Peace and Security Studies, Port Harcourt, and convened under the Rivers Peace Initiative (RPI).

The dialogue, designed as a citizen-focused platform for constructive engagement ahead of the 2027 election, brought together stakeholders, civil society actors and the media to interrogate the vision of governorship hopefuls.

Presenting his agenda titled “Building The Rivers We Deserve,” the former Secretary to the Rivers State Government said education remains the foundation of his prosperity agenda for all Rivers people.

According to him, his administration will overhaul public schools to provide a conducive learning environment, strengthen technical and vocational education, and invest massively in teacher training and retraining to prepare Rivers students to compete globally.

Dr. Pidomson noted that his education reform will be tied to job creation, entrepreneurship, digital technology, agriculture and manufacturing, so that young people become employers of labour rather than job seekers.

He commended the organizers of the Rivers We Want Dialogue for creating a fair and inclusive platform where candidates can present their ideas directly to the people, rather than through ethnic sentiments or imposition.

The ADC candidate reiterated that his campaign will be built on ideas, discipline and people-centred solutions, stressing that no local government or community will be treated as an afterthought in his government.

By: Akujobi Amadi