By Praise Chinecherem
A total of 3435 secondary school students in Onitsha, Anambra State have benefited from the free Remedial Tutorial Programme of the Onitsha Advancement Foundation (OnAF).
Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe who disclosed this weekend during the 2024 Ofala festival, said the beneficiaries had secured admissions into various higher institutions.
He said the programme, initiated in 2015 was targeted for secondary students who did not obtain the requisite minimum of five credits for admission.
“Since inception, the programme run with 11 teachers and 3 administrative staff for 6 months has assisted the beneficiaries to gain admission with excellent scores in the respective examinations.
The monarch also announced that the foundation had continued to engage undergraduates and secondary school students residing in the city as instructors on various subjects under the free Long Vacation Tutorial Programme.
“The programme introduced in 2007 by the National Association of Onitsha Ado students engages an average of 60 undergraduates as instructors on various subjects in accordance with the State Ministry of Education scheme of work.
“About 4000 secondary school students participated in 2024 at two locations in Onitsha North and South local government areas respectively,” he added.
Achebe however identified inadequate funding for Vigilante Services in the area as the most pressing challenge faced by the community during the last twelve months.
He said although government had earlier doubled its contribution for the AVG of N10,000 each from 10 to 20 persons, the community was still left with additional cost, increasing the burden with the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage.
“The governor has declared categorically that government would not provide any additional funding for the Vigilante Service, while maintaining that traditional rulers, as chief security officers of their community, would be held accountable for any security breaches.
“Already, our urbanized and sprawling domain is stretched beyond limit to adequately meet the bare essential salary so as to avoid loss of morale and commitment amongst our combined vigilante personnel numbering 36,” he added.
