In a significant development for education in Anambra State, the government has officially taken over the reins of Comprehensive Secondary School Ugbene from the Ugbene Community. The handover ceremony, held within the school premises in Awka North local government area, witnessed the presence of key stakeholders including the traditional ruler, Igwe Samson Chimakwa, community leaders, members of the Ugbene Progressive Union, students, teachers, and representatives from educational bodies such as the Post Primary Schools Service Commission and Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo, speaking through the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, emphasized the significance of this transition, which now brings the total number of secondary schools under state administration to 268. Governor Soludo commended the forward-thinking ethos of the Ugbene community, urging them to rename the school to “Community Secondary School” to avoid future ownership disputes. He pledged to deploy students and qualified staff to the institution, assuring that it would benefit from all privileges accorded to other secondary schools in the state.
In a heartfelt address, Mr. Emmanuel Ibeh, the Secretary-General of the Ugbene Progressive Union, recounted the journey leading to this momentous occasion. He acknowledged the concerted efforts of community leaders and residents in nurturing the school since its establishment in 2019, including the ongoing commitment to pay teachers’ salaries. Mr. Ibeh appealed for the inclusion of indigenous teachers in the state’s ongoing recruitment process and advocated for the employment of local security personnel to safeguard the school.
Professor Nkechi Ikediugwu, Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Service Commission, echoed the commitment to uphold the school’s standards, ensuring the retention of qualified indigenous teachers and the provision of subject specialists. The sentiment was echoed by the traditional ruler, community leaders, and the acting principal of the school, who expressed relief at the transfer of responsibility to the state government. They extended gratitude to Governor Soludo for his administration’s infrastructural developments in the community, pledging their support in future endeavors.
The event culminated with Mrs. Benedine Anagor, Secretary of PPSSC, delivering a vote of thanks, and the symbolic handover of ownership documents to the Commissioner for Education, marking the official transition of Comprehensive Secondary School Ugbene into the state’s educational fold.
