Priscilla Otti Empowers 300 Pupils In Umuahia As Safe Tent Care Initiative Flags Off Back-To-School Outreach

The wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, has empowered 300 pupils in Umuahia with free learning materials through her foundation, the Safe Tent Care Initiative, as part of a Back-to-School Outreach Programme designed to ease the financial burden on parents and improve access to education.

The outreach, which is targeting 1,000 pupils across the state, saw school children receive school bags, exercise books, mathematics sets, colour pencils, food flasks, and water bottles to support them as schools resume for the new academic session.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Mrs. Otti said the initiative stems from her passion to reduce pressure on parents while ensuring that no child in Abia is denied basic education due to lack of essential school materials.

“This is just the beginning. Our target is to expand this outreach until every child in Abia is reached. While His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, is working tirelessly to improve the quality of education, my role is to make sure children have the tools to learn. Together, we want to raise a generation of children who will benefit from sound and quality education,” she stated.

She commended the Abia State Ministry of Education and the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) for partnering with the foundation, adding that their involvement offers a major relief to parents struggling with educational costs. She urged pupils to value the materials and see education as the foundation of their future.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, praised the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that aligns with the state’s vision of securing a brighter future for children.

On her part, the Chairperson of ASUBEB, Mrs. Lydia Onuoha, said the gesture would go a long way in easing the burden on mothers and pledged to continue partnering with the foundation to make education accessible.

The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Ngozi Felix, and the Commissioner for Basic Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, represented by Mr. Kenechukwu Nwosu, also hailed the outreach, noting that beyond providing materials, the programme restores dignity to education and renews hope for children across the state.

The Back-to-School Outreach is the first edition of the Safe Tent Care Initiative Foundation’s educational programmes and will continue until the 1,000-pupil target is achieved.