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Urum Eke, group managing director of the FBN Holdings, extols Anambra state for reviving its education sector

|  By Maureen Chigbo  |  Mar 13, 2017 @ 18:05 GMT  |

URUM Kalu Eke, group managing director of the FBN Holdings Plc, has extolled the strides Anambra State made in revatalising its education sector, stating that education determines the altitude the individual or community can attain in life.

“The overarching aspiration should therefore be to build a sustainable learning environment and platform for access to learning and education, otherwise, fundamental and strategic thinking towards self-actiualisation and human dignity cannot happen,” Eke said.

The group managing director stated this while delivering a keynote address entitled: “Building Better Communities for a Better World” at the Abiriba Communal Improvement Union, ACIU, Business and Leadership Awards on Saturday, March 4.

According to him, “clearly education is the enabler and an investment in education holds the key to bright future. Need we go far? Just about 20 years ago, Anambra state was a basket case. Hampered by leadership failures, the education system collapsed and our own Pius Okigbo will say, those incapable of learning took to teaching. They had one of the highest failure rates in WASCE, GCE and JAMB. Naturally and consequently, crime rate was one of the highest in the country. It was common at the time I served as a branch manager of a commercial bank in Onitsha between 1993 and 1995, for armed gangs to attack bank branches and armoured vehicles on the highways with impunity and in broad day light.

“Communities in Anambra State appeared headed for extinction. Fast forward to 2016, through massive investment in education infrastructure, and social mobilisation over a sustained period, the same state is the safest state in the country today

“It has consistently produced the top-3 candidates yearly in WASCE and GCE examinations. It is approaching full employment and certainly has become self-sufficient in food production with surplus to export to other states and overseas – this include vegetables and root crops, thus earning foreign currency,” Eke said.

According to Eke,  Anambra “state has become less dependent on the monthly allocation from Abuja. Anambra state has the best road network in Nigeria and farmers can evacuate produce to cities guaranteeing better lives for them and their children. This has enabled manufacturers and industrialists to return home with investments. Today 2 of our award recipients are from Anambra State and they have massive investments in their home communities.”

Eke was speaking to audience from all walks of life some which have distinguished themselves in various field of endeavour who were given award by the Abiriba Communal Improvement Union, Lagos.

He said when they went to convey the news of his award to Alex Okafor, executive chairman, Chicason Group,  who was honoured at the event, he asked, “How many of our youth will want to return and settle in Abiriba?” Alas we had no ready answer”

Eke observed that the “decay of our communities takes root from the absence of structured education which should translate to responsible citizens; and on this matter, both the government, civil society and business must acknowledge failure.”

Other dignitaries who were honoured at the event include General Azubuike Ihejirika, former chief of Army Staff, Professor Anya O. Anya, president of Ndigbo, Lagos, Commodore Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe, vice president to President Ibrahim Babangida during the military era, Oba otudeko, chairman, Honeywell Group and Group Chairman, FBN Holdings Plc.

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