UYO-The Cogent-OUBN Foundation, a non- profit organization has continued its “Back to School Initiative” with the donation of dozens of educational writing materials worth millions of Naira to students and pupils in the four local government areas of Akwa Ibom.
The Foundation marking its 17th year with the initiative had beneficiaries drawn from local government areas of Uyo, Abak, Nsit Ibom and Etinan include Junior Secondary (JS1,2,3) , Senior Secondary (SS1,2,3) and primary school pupils .
They received text books ,customized exercise books, biros, pencils ,mathematical sets, rulers, erasers and sharpeners .
The Executive Director of the Foundation, Obong Utuk Bassey Nkanga ,who presented the materials at the Ikot Ofon Ikono Village Council hall, Saturday , said that the initiative was in continuation of his charity to families in the communities to enable their children return to school for the new 2026/2027 academic session.
“It’s all about giving back to the society where I grew up .As an indigene of this village, this is in continuation of what I started 17 years ago and it is continuing ,” he said.
Nkanga advised the children to obey their parents ,respect their teachers and listen to them in school , warning that failure to comply to these could cause their educational set back and bleak future.
“Any child that disobeys his parents at home or teachers in school, would never do well in school,” he reminded , noting that it is clearly stated in the Bible.
He also advised them to be law abiding and to be serious in their studies so as to secure their future greatness to help their families and also return to replicate the same support to others in the communities .
“ What I’m doing to you today, let it not stop in me. I want you all to continue it in the future. I have seen in you doctors, nurses ,engineers, lawyers politicians and pastors,” he added.
The philanthropist prayed God to bless, guide, protect and bestow the children with knowledge and ingenuity as they return to school.
The Village Head of Ikot Ofon Ikono , Chief Polycap Udoudo, appreciated the philanthropist for sustaining the programme for the benefit of indigent families.
He advised the children to desist from damaging the education writing materials ,but to use them to improve their learning .
The monarch prayed God to continue blessing the philanthropist and his family while calling on other well-placed individuals and groups to tread Nkanga’s example by contributing to the growth of the community.
A beneficiary, Miss Esther Wilson, SS3 student of Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Ikot Ekpeyak Ikono, Uyo , said she was full of praise to the benefactor as the materials would complement what her parents would give her to resume school.
Also speaking, Mrs Mfonobong Silas , a parent from Atai Ediene, in Abak Local Government Area, thanked Obong Nkanga for the gesture and prayed God to bless him the more to continue with the good work.