By Anietie Akpan
It was tears of joy in various public primary and secondary schools in Calabar Municipality on Monday, January 19, as the implementation of the Rep. Bassey Akiba N100 Million Educational Support Programme for the 2025/2026 academic session commenced.
The programme is sponsored by the Member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Rep. Bassey Akiba.
A release from THE BRIDGE MEDIA, said the programme from the early hours, the AKIBA TEAM fanned out across selected schools, ensuring that both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries were personally and courteously attended to.
With the announcement of scholarships and the distribution of essential educational materials, students, parents, and teachers alike were swept up in a wave of elation and gratitude.
Beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries were visibly moved, many shedding tears of joy as educational materials reached their hands.
Students lifted their voices in heartfelt prayers, beseeching God to bless Rep. Bassey Akiba for his unwavering commitment to education.
In their own words, they declared: “You have kept our dreams alive. We can’t thank you enough for your Educational Support Programme. May God Almighty bless you abundantly.”
Teachers and school administrators joined the chorus of appreciation, hailing the programme as a watershed moment in academic empowerment and holistic student development. Parents expressed deep admiration for the federal lawmaker’s foresight, describing the initiative as timely, compassionate, and transformative, an endeavour that will leave an enduring imprint on the lives of young learners.
Speaking through his Team Leaders, Rep. Bassey Akiba reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to driving development and progress in his federal constituency through impactful projects and programmes. Emphasizing that education is the bedrock of societal progress, he admonished students to pursue their studies diligently while assuring that he will continue to prioritize initiatives that nurture talent, expand opportunities, and inspire academic excellence.
Schools visited include Government Primary/Secondary School, Akai Efa; UNICAL Demonstration Secondary School; Army Day Secondary School; Command Children School, Eburutu Barracks; West African People’s Institute (WAPI); Government Secondary School, Nyahasang; Technical College, Ikot Effanga Mkpa; and Ministry of Women Affairs Nursery/Primary School, Parliamentary.
Others are Government Secondary School, Federal Housing; Government Science School, Ikot Effanga; Government Migrant Secondary School, 8 Miles; Government Girls Secondary School, Big Qua; Hope Waddell Training Institution, St. Patrick College, Ikot Ansa, among others.
The unprecedented outpouring of gratitude underscores the transformative power of purposeful leadership. Rep. Bassey Akiba’s Educational Support Programme is not merely an act of generosity; it is a bold investment in the future of the youth and the sustained development and progress of Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency. As Rep. Akiba profoundly reminds us:
“True leadership is not measured by titles or wealth, but by the lives we touch, the dreams we nurture, and the legacy of hope we leave behind. When we invest in our children, we invest in the future of our community and our nation.”
