The second edition of the Anioma Youths Network for Development (ANYD) Back to School programme was held in Onicha Ugbo, Delta State on Saturday, September 8.
Students, parents and guardians from towns like Ubulu-Uku, Isele-Uku, Igbodo, Obior and the host community came out in numbers to benefit from the project initiated by Odita Sunday-Udemaguna, a senior journalist with The Guardian.
The initiator was himself was a victim of neglect and utter deprivation while growing up, having lost his mother at a young age.
Joining the children and their parents were traditional rulers, businessmen, journalists, politicians and senior security personnel from the state and beyond.
The event kicked off with an opening prayer and words of exhortation from the Obi of Onicha Ugbo kingdom, His Royal Majesty Agbogidi Victor Chukwumalieze 1, who was represented by his traditional prime minister, the Iyasere of Onicha Ugbo.
Then came the presentation gift items like school bags, book and other aids to learning to the pupils.
The master of ceremony MC, Frank Oshanugor, a Lagos based veteran journalist and author called out names of registered beneficiaries who received the items with visible joy of appreciation.
Over 120 beneficiaries made up of primary and secondary school students went home rejoicing, with appreciation for Sunday-Udemaguna’s gesture.
Sunday-Udemaguna, the president and founder of ANYD, later delivered a speech and donated N25,000 each to two widows to assist in boosting their petty trade.
“In trying to give a helping hand to our less privileged brothers and sisters in primary and secondary schools, I am personally not driven by political intentions or pecuniary gains, rather by passion and the fact that as a child, I suffered so much deprivation as I grew up without a mother. As a toddler, I did not have the motherly affection and attention as I lost my mother very early in life,” Sunday-Udemaguna said.
Continuing, the convener reiterated the essence of western education in the life a growing child and the importance of lending a helping hand.
His words: “Ladies and gentlemen, permit me at this juncture to say that I strongly believe that apart from God, education is the only thing that can liberate the son and daughter poor parents in our society. Education becomes interesting for kids and teenagers when you make academic tools available to them.
“Like I said in my address last year, the Back to School programme was strategically planned to take place at a time like this when primary and secondary schools in the country are about to resume for a new academic year. Unarguably, it is a period parents are usually under pressure to pay school fees and buy all the necessary books and materials for their children and wards.
“It is a known fact that there are some children in our communities whose parents are not well placed to cater to their needs at this time of school resumption; hence we have chosen to lend some support in our little way. As a non-governmental organization with a vision to positively impact the lives of the young ones in our communities, Anioma Youths Network for Development strongly believes that one does not need to have so much money before one could make impact in the lives of others.
“Like I did last year, let me once again quote Etienne de Grelett’s postulation on the essence of good deed in life as long as one is alive; saying ‘I shall pass through this life but once. Any good, therefore, I can do, or any kindness I can show, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it; for I shall never pass this way again.’”
