Adeniyi is not alone in his bewilderment. Many Nigerians are curious about Anambra's recent string of sparkling performances in education. Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi who teaches Mathematics in an all-girls college in Onitsha defeated her fellow teachers from nineteen other states of the federation to win this year's edition of Multina Teacher of the Year Awards. Giving a rare insight into the brightness of her mind, Mrs Obi, a passionate teacher told the panel of five prominent academics and a columnist that decided the contest that "Teaching is a noble profession. It is a calling.
It is a commitment to building the nation." Nothing could have captured the weight of the true importance of teachers to society better than that. The six judges, made up of Prof. Pat Utomi, Prof. Mopelola Omeogun of Univeristy of Lagos, Prof. Thomas Ofuya, Vice Chancellor of Wellspring University, Benin, Prof. Tijani Abubakar of ABU, Zaria, Dr Mrs Fatima Binta Abdulrahman and Segun Adeniyi of Thisday, were thoroughly impressed by Mrs Obi's overall brilliance in the contest and were unanimous in the decision to give her the award.
Interestingly, two days after Nkemdilim Obi's emergence as the Best Teacher in Nigeria, Team Anambra also emerged winners of the national Pre-basic Debate Competition held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to mark Nigeria's 55th independence anniversary.
Interestingly too, Anambra had won the same contest last year and subsequently flew the Nigerian flag in Singapore in June this year at the World Schools Debate Championship. The team was made up of Adachukwu Onyekwena from Girls Secondary School, Amaenyi, Awka, Nnamdi Udoji from Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, Chinemerem Oguaba from Awada Secondary School, Obosi, Chukwuebuka Obichi from Army Day Secondary School, Onitsha and Nneka Chigozie from Mater Ammabillis Secondary School, Umoji; all public schools located in different parts of the state. The consistency that Anambra State has achieved in this credible contest of intellectual promise is re-assuring.
Anambra has also shown the same striking promise in external examinations, coming first in WAEC and NECO examinations for three consecutive years. The fascinating thing about the rise of Anambra is that the young students who have brought repeated honours to the state in national and international debate championships were all drawn from public schools.
Well, for Adeniyi and other interested Nigerians who are wondering where Anambra's performance is coming from, wonder no more. The answer is simple. Anambra State prides itself as the Light of the Nation. In figurative and literal sense, Anambra cannot be said to be anything less. Not after giving the world the great Zik of Africa, Emeka Ojukwu, Chinua Achebe, Chike Obi, Chimamanda Adichie, Emeka Anyaoku, Christopher and his brother Pius Okigbo, Prof. Samuel Okoye, Dora Akunyili, Chukwuma Soludo, Chuka Umunna, James Adichie, Ben Enweonwu and a whole universe of amazing scholars, pioneers and achievers. So, there seems to be a genetic pool where the young saplings that are astonishing the world actually came from. But even so, the recent renaissance has more to do with administrative foresight than any inherent ability.
The fact is, since he took the oath of office in March last year, Governor Willie Obiano has shown that under him, Anambra would not play second fiddle to anyone in education. He has made tough decisions, pushed hard-hitting reforms and demonstrated a thirst for excellence never seen before and today, the results are trickling in. It must be noted, however, that he inherited good fundamentals in education. His predecessor, governor Peter Obi had returned mission schools to churches and made bold efforts to refocus the attention of the people on education. But Obiano has shown a more organised and structured approach that guarantees sustainability and instant results in the sector.
Obiano's strategic approach to education is anchored on the crucial vision of becoming one of the Top-3 States with the highest literacy rates in Nigeria. Essentially, Obiano approaches education in three broad areas – infrastructural development, pupils/students development, and teachers' welfare. In Infrastructure, his administration has renovated 862 units of 10-classroom blocks across the 21 Local Government Areas in the state and disbursed the sum of N733 million to the missions for the renovation of the schools the churches took over from the state.
In pupils/students welfare, his administration has kept faith with its "No-Child-Left-Behind" policy in education; awarding free education to all physically challenged children in the state. The governor took it a bit further when he awarded scholarships to the children of Boko Haram victims and other children who lost their parents while on active duty for the state. In all, the state has awarded scholarships of over N30 million in eighteen months.
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