Members of the clergy, traditional rulers and academics, Thursday, commended the launch of Adada Education Foundation, saying the initiative would change the narratives of Nsukka face of Enugu State.
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Rt Rev Prof Godfrey Onah, who spoke at the event that was held at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said, ” Adada Education Foundation will change the narrative of Nsukka people.
“I assure all that it has no political undertone because I have scrutinised the initiative. It will be transparently administered for the good of our people.”
The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Nsukka, Rt Rev Aloysius Agbo, assured of the scheme’s transparency.
He said, “The seed has been sown. It is a movement that will benefit everybody. In the next ten years, Nsukka will not be the same again if we embrace this foundation.”
The Chairman, of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, said, “The change we anticipated has come. We must embrace this change. It is not a game of politics, and I can attest to it, otherwise, I wouldn’t have embraced it.”
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the foundation, Hon Chinedu Onu, said the foundation would accelerate the human capacity development of Igbo Nsukka by teaching in the natives the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation.
He said, “We can achieve everything if we join hands. We are our limitations. We seek help towards this scheme. We shall plead with UNN to donate their centre of entrepreneurship to enable us to embark on entrepreneurial education to empower our people with self-reliant skills.
“AEF will also offer career guidance, and raise the consciousness of the Nsukka people. The funds will be for the payment of tuition fees, and to be administered to schools where the beneficiaries are studying.”
The guest speaker and former Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof Osita Ogbu, commended the foundation for emphasising entrepreneurial education where the beneficiaries would be self-reliant. Ogbu, former Chairman of the National Population Commission, also tasked Nigerian universities to be centred for problem-solving instead of mere certificate acquisition centres.
He said, “Universities should be centres of solutions, where key manufacturing firms should utilise their research. But in our case, research studies are kept on shelves. I blame everyone.
“There has been no concerted effort to understand the causes of our backwardness.
“Therefore, the key players should enact institutional change. Adada Education Foundation should be able to navigate this change in Nsukka using the intellectual prowess of UNN engineering faculties.”
He berated Nigerian scholars for not being result-oriented. According to him, “Do we just publish research for the sake of promotion to become professors?
“Can Adada Education Foundation bring change, using the UNN platform? If you assemble university engineering graduates and Igbo apprentices, you can guess the outcome.”
The Chairman of the occasion, Prof Ossy Okanya, commended the initiators of the foundation. He said, “Adada Education Foundation is a philanthropic platform to facilitate rapid and quality education and enhance the industrial revolution of Ndi Adada.
“The spirit of giving for knowledge acquisition has always been a part of our people.
“Our place can boast of people who can donate through available foundations.
“Your contributions will make tangible impacts. Education funding is critical in any society.”
Members of the Board of Trustees of the foundation include the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Rt Rev Prof Godfrey Onah; the Anglican Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, RT Rev Aloysius Agbo; Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers, HRM Igwe Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, and Hon Hillary Chinedu Onu, who is the Coordinator, Programme Implementation Unit of the foundation.
NewsNGR reports that Adada, also known as Nsukka cultural zone, is composed of Enugu North Senatorial district and Isi-Uzo LGA of Enugu State. The zone has been clamouring for its creation as Adada State.