Commentary: Another Excellent Performance Of Ndi Anambra In Academics

Written By: COMR. GODWIN IBEKWE

Few days ago, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) released the performance indicator of its 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). According to JAMB, Miss Agnes Egoagwuagwu Maduafokwa from Anambra state scored the highest mark with 365 out of a maximum of 400 marks, while David Okwuchukwu Nwobi, also from Anambra, came overall second with 363 marks. No doubt, the excellent performance of the Umu Anambra has made the state proud.

Analysts, however say that the prodigious achievement of the duo is an eloquent testimony of Governor Willie Obiano’s special efforts in promoting education in the state. They are of the view that their exceedingly impressive performance is consistent in the brilliant account of Ndi Anambra in all academic endeavours.

Remarkably, Governor Obiano has been providing enabling academic environment for students of the state to perform optimally, while he has constantly sponsored Anambra state teachers and students to international completions of which the state has continued to win many laurels. The golden prize won by students of Regina Pacis Model Secondary School, Onitsha, at California, United States, in the global competition in the use of the Internet to solve social problems, is still fresh in our memory.

No one can equally forget in a hurry that Saint John’s Science and Technical College, Alor clinched the third prize in the World Festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) held in Tunis, Tunisia.

We also note with pride how schools and teachers in Anambra State, last October, won four out of the 24 prizes during the World Teachers Day marked in Abuja, becoming the only state in Nigeria to win more than one prize. Anambra State also went home with two of the four vehicles donated by President Muhammadu Buhari for their academic excellence.

Equally, Loretto Special Science School, Adazi, won the first prize in the Senior Secondary School category of an intensive assessment of schools throughout Nigeria, while Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, Onitsha took the first position in the Junior Secondary School category. Ave Sancta Maria School, also in Onitsha, made the best result among primary schools, and Clement Okodo from Abatete in Idemili North was judged the best primary school teacher in Nigeria.

In another heroic vein, Miss Tochukwu Anyigbo from Ihiala, who is studying in Lagos, participated in last year’s International Artificial Intelligence Competition in Mexico, courtesy of Governor Willie Obiano, and took the second position. A teacher in another school in the state won the award of Best Teacher in a nationwide competition sponsored by Nigerian Breweries.

It is worthy of note that Governor Willie Obiano was the winner of the John F. Kennedy Memorial essay Competition, organized by the American Embassy in 1974 when he was a student of the Christ the King College, (CKC), Onitsha. He is an education-friendly governor. Anambra is the only state where teachers earn higher than civil servants. Science, English and Igbo teachers receive an additional 10% of their salaries because these subjects are considered key.

Those who teach in hard-to-reach places are paid an additional 20%. In other words, a science or English or Igbo teacher in a hard-to-reach place, earns not just his or her monthly salary like the civil servants but an extra 40%.

Governor Obiano pays great attention to both basic and higher education, resulting in the excellent results that the state has been recording in the educational sector. This is due to the huge investments made by the Obiano administration in education as well as government’s partnership with the church is working very well. It has imbued in the students that global competitiveness and a strong belief in themselves are very important.

Umu akwukwo Anambra believe that nothing is impossible. They are taught the shared values of the state; that they must be the best in all they do. It is indeed an uplifting epoch in educational accomplishment in Anambra State under Governor Willie Obiano, Akpokuedike Global. To God be the glory.