The Legacy School projects, being bankrolled by uac of Nigeria Plc and which focuses on the upliftment of the nation's educational sector, has been extended to Community Primary school, Okemeta in Ikogosi-Ekiti where a fully equipped classroom block was commissioned last week.

The company embarked on the project after the town's monarch, Oba Elijah Abiodun Olorunnisola and his council of chiefs indicated that the primary school was in dire need of additional classroom, a request that tallied with uac's new vision of asserting its presence in the nation's schools which are grappling with monumental infrastructural, academic and moral challenges.

While delivering his keynote address at the official commissioning of the classroom block, the Group Managing Director/CEO of uac, Mr. Larry Ettah described the successful completion of the building project as a physical manifestation of the concerns of the company's leadership towards one of the nation's schools in need of an urgent intervention in the area of infrastructure, and that they have recognised the need to spread the Legacy school projects, under which some colleges have benefited in Lagos, beyond the cities, adding that this explains the building of the classroom block in Ikogosi.

He said: “Our commitment to the Legacy School project on education is geared towards impacting positively on the lives of young, sometimes helpless Nigerians, who need a trusted shoulder to rest their future. We are ever ready to contribute our quota towards building a standing army of young, brilliant Nigerians to take charge of our tomorrow”.

Sensitizing other corporate bodies and well-heeled individuals to the danger of not contributing to the development of the nation's educational sector, Ettah said: “We are equally unmistaken on the fact that, as a company, we can only make a contribution towards the turn-around of the educational sector in Nigeria . We therefore call on other corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals to urgently contribute towards rebuilding the lost glory of our educational system. The sheer absence of infrastructure in our schools and the glaring neglect of the educational sector are signs of immense disaster in the country. As a people, we must contribute our utmost to stave off this calamity”.

Community Primary School, Ikogosi-Ekiti became the latest beneficiary of uac's largesse as a result of the good relationship between the Ikogosi Community and a subsidiary of uac, Warm Spring Waters Nigeria Limited (WSWNL), which sources GOSSY Water from Ikogosi.

The relationship has indeed been mutually beneficial. Before constructing the block of classroom, the company had earlier built a bus shelter for the community, supported the youths of the town in football activities and sponsored the annual Ikogosi day celebration.

Mr. Emma Osugo, the Managing Director of Warm Spring Waters says much of the company community cordial relationship: “Since the take off of WSWNL, the Ikogosi community has shown not only great enthusiasm in the project, but has, through its leadership, demonstrated its commitment and cooperation”, adding that as the company has started with a Corporate Social Responsibility engagement which is positive and pragmatic, it will continue to keep the interest of the community within its radar range.

Osugo praised the uac group for supporting other subsidiaries to maintain an effective corporate social responsibility, explaining that as their business grows, they will be more empowered to identify more with the expectations of stakeholders.

Responding, Oba Olorunnisola, the Onikogosi of Ikogosi-Ekiti, expressed the happiness of his people with the donation of the classroom block and reassured of his people's readiness to sustain their hospitality towards the company. His words: “faces of men appeared only for a time, but heir images and contributions appear forever more”.

The monarch also expressed his profound appreciation on the on-going renovation of one of the school's building which recently had its roofs blown off by rainstorm. He used the occasion to call for a reduction of the cost of building materials to encourage organisations like the uac to continue ‘doing good' to the society.

Mr. Bayo Ajayi, the Executive Secretary of the Ekiti state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) who was represented said that uac is the first company to identify with the state government's School Assisted Programme and the first to donate a fully equipped classroom block in the state, reiterating the state government's willingness to partner with public-spirited individuals and corporate bodies.

 

Culled from Vanguard Newspaper
Thursday 3rd April, 2008
Education Weekly, Page 44.
Educational correspondent Olubusuyi Adenipekun