By CHARLES IWUOHA

A cross section of Nigerians, on Thursday, hailed United Nations International Peace and Governance Council (UN-IPGC) for appointing Dr Chimbo Obieze as a Special Envoy on Sustainable Peace Education to Anambra State.

Obieze was handed over an award and letter of the appointment by Dr Farzam Kamalabadi, the UN-IPGC Africa Head of Mission in Abuja recently.

It would be recalled that the educational philanthropist achieved the humanitarian feat by keeping children in schools in Anambra State through his Support Children Education Fund (SCEFUND).

They were of the view that Obieze, an educational philanthropist, having given over 2,000 pupils in Anambra State scholarship empowerment to remain and continue with their education, deserved special recognition and destination as a Special Envoy.

Speaking, Prof Marcel Ezenwoye, President of Chartered Institute of Educational Practitioners UK (CIEPUK), Africa Region, said that Obieze deserved to be celebrated.

Ezenwoye said: “Dr Obieze has pulled so many children out of the streets through his SCEFUND organization.

“I call for more partners to support SCEFUND mandate and Anambra State Government through the ministry of education to make education fee easier for parents and teeming youths to access quality education.”

Maj.-Gen. Bello Tsoho also charged Obieze not to relent in his good works to humanity but continue on the track record he has set through his SCEFUND project.

Tsoho, who is the IPGC Chairman, Advisory Panel on Sustainable Peace Education, noted that no effort should be spared in ensuring that “every child is in school for their upbringing to be holistic.”

“I call on the good people of Anambra State to sustain this ongoing effort for the betterment of the future of our children and society at large,” he said.

Chief Dennis Ezeora, a leader in Atani community, said that Obieze has supported some families in his community for their children to continue schooling.

“We are grateful to Dr Obieze for this timely intervention notwithstanding the harsh economic realities facing everyone,” Ezeora, who retired as primary school headmaster in the state, said.

Mrs Chioma Anichebe, a resident of Awka Road in Onitsha, noted that when it was difficult for her four children to go to school at a time, Obieze’s organization gave the family a life-line.

“SCEFUND provided the extra funding to keep them in the private primary schools they are attending now,” Anichebe said.

It would be recalled that SCEFUND is a certified organisation tasked with grooming and supporting the education of upcoming leaders that would take charge tomorrow in their various fields of human endeavours.

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