Succour appears to be on the way for dilapidated and poor government-owned primary schools across the 17 local government areas in Abia as the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, used the occasion of his 51st birthday anniversary to launch his pet project, Friends of Abia School Adoption Initiative (FASAI).

Under FASAI, friends of the governor and other well-to-do individuals from Abia or other states of the country would be persuaded to adopt a public primary school identified and adjudged to be the poorest in its vicinity.

Apart from giving the school a face lift, the benefactor would also be expected to build a six-classroom block with a headmaster’s office, a library block and provide other facilities. Already, 24 schools have been adopted, under FASAI.

The initiative is aimed at turning around, such primary schools across the state in the next six months and designed, as well, to give hope to pupils from poor schools.

Ikpeazu unveiled FASAI during a birthday party organised in his honour by his aides at the Banquete Hall of Government House Sunday, which was preceded by a church service by the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

The governor, who dedicated the day to children, said that at 51, his concern was whether he has been able to bequeath any legacy to society, adding that although many highly-placed individuals in the society today were products of public schools, such favoured individuals have not been able to give back to the primary schools they passed through.

“The only way to increase the output of the poorest schools in the state is to improve their standards,” Ikpeazu said while appealing to well-meaning Abians and Nigerians to come to the aid of the poor schools by adopting and transforming them.

To keep a tab on the project, he promised to establish be a liaison between his office and the schools involved, adding that he wants to see an increase in pupils enrolment in the affected schools.

In his speech, the speaker of Abia state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, described the initiative as laudable, promising that the legislature will buy into FASAI by adopting 24 schools, one each from of the 24 state constituencies.

Earlier, Nigeria’s immediate past High Commissioner to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who also promised to adopt one school had described the initiative as revolutionary, maintaining that it was a vision which would change the education landscape of the state and beyond.

Highlight of the ceremony was the cutting of the birthday cake by the celebrant.

•Photo by Ibeabuchi Abarikwu shows, L-R; Chief Ojo Maduekwe, former Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Rt. Hon. Matins Azubike, Speaker Abia state House of Assembly, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, his deputy Rt. Hon. Udeh Okochukwu, his wife Vivian, and Chief Chijioke Nwakodo, Chief of staff to the governor cutting the cake during the 51th birthday anniversary of the governor in Umuahia.

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