By Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, at the weekend in Enugu canvassed for more private sector investments in education insisting that government alone could not effectively address the numerous challenges facing the sector.
Adamu spoke as the Ozara Union USA (OUUSA), a group of indigenes of Ozara community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, residing in United States of America, constructed and handed over a science laboratory worth over N25m for Ozara High School.
The newly constructed laboratory is a total remodel of a dilapidated laboratory block that left the secondary school without a functional laboratory.
The minister who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Chimezie Aguiyi, commended OUUSA for the gesture and asked other groups to borrow a leaf by coming home to equally make their own contributions.
Commissioning the science laboratory inside the school premises, the President of OUUSA, Chief Larry Okoh, said the project was in line with the group’s dedication to assist educational growth in the community.
Okoh said: “Primarily, since 2005, we embarked on educational projects. Initially it was primary schools, we offered scholarships to pupils going over to secondary schools, donated text and exercise books every year. We built a full primary school block and now we’ve moved to secondary school level. They didn’t have a laboratory but we came and built this one being commissioned today which cost us over N25 million.
“The next step is to equip the laboratory. We sponsor our projects by donations and we have immediately started to donate for it because the money for the equipments is little compare to what we spent building the laboratory.
“Our motivation is simple. We are Ozalla people living in USA, some of us had our secondary education here, when I visited here as my alma Mata, I discovered that the science laboratory is no more and we had to execute the project.
“This is the job of government but you cannot wait for government all the time but we hope that the government will come and assist us. About N7m is required to furnish the lab and so we call on the government to step in so that it will be a complete laboratory.”
Principal of the school, Mr. Cammy Onyia, expressed appreciation to the group, noting that it was a prayer answered through OUUSA. He called for further assistance from government, individuals and other groups to fully equip the laboratory with reagents and described the diaspora group as “marvelous OUUSA.”
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state who was represented by his Special Adviser on Diaspora and Special Projects, Mrs. Olangwa Ezekwe said the state government will continue to support the effort of the group and praised the group for their good work of giving back to their community.
Among those who made donations for the equipment of the laboratory include the former minister for information, Mr. Frank Nweke jr, former Governor of Enugu state Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, among others.
