By Gabriel Enogholase

Efandion, a rural community in Uromi  Kingdom, Edo State, came alive recently when the MD/CEO of Intercontinental Distillers Ltd, Engr. Patrick Anegbe, an indigene of Efandion, constructed four blocks of classrooms, staff room and Principal’s office, equipped and donated same to the Edo State Government.

The only secondary school in the village was one of the schools founded by late Prof. Ambrose Alli, former governor of defunct Bendel State as part of the implementation of the free education policy of the then Unity Party of Nigeria, that no child should trek more than three kilometers to access secondary education.

Over the years, due to the vagaries of weather, the  students to study in an unwholesome environment.

At the commissioning ceremony, Anegbe said he decided to embark on the project to celebrate his people who nurtured him in his life’s journey.

“Over the years, I have learnt that education is the yoke that breaks the bondage of illiteracy. Therefore I felt the best legacy to bequeath to the children of my community is education, thus necessitating my action to execute this fully furnished block of four classrooms, staff room and Principal’s office.

“My belief is that you may give silver and gold but these have temporary sustainability but if you give a child a good education, you have given that child enduring and sustainable foundation in life. I am a good testimony to this fact.”

Anegbe who said he was not a politician and do not intend to be one, emphasized that his little gesture to his community has no political undertones, but just his own way of saying thank you to the community for their love and care for him while he was young and even now as an adult.

He appealed to the state government to give urgent attention to a block of classroom currently being constructed to ensure the students study in a conducive environment.

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole who was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Lawrence Aghedo who himself was a student of the secondary school 29 years ago, expressed gratitude to the donor and appealed to other well to do individuals to emulate the good gesture.

He said government alone cannot provide all the necessities of life for the citizenry, noting that a little assistance from individuals and corporate citizens will help the government in the provision of social amenities.

Earlier, the Principal of the school, Mr. Eyieyien F.E. said that upon assumption as the Principal of the school, he met a lot of problems such as non- functioning toilet for both students and teachers, no water and the problem of accommodations as the buildings in the school were all in bad shape.

He added that it was at this moment of need that Chief Anegbe sent for him and asked about the school’s areas of need. He thanked the donor for providing the block of classrooms and the Ministry of Education for approving the plan of the building on time.

He, however, appealed to the state government to kindly contact the contractor handling the building within the school premises to mobilize to site in order to complete the project for the benefit of the students.

Some of the community leaders including Chief William Inegbinosun, the Oniha of Uromi who spoke with Vanguard, were full of praises fot Anegbe.