Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has hailed telecommunications giant Globacom for initiating projects that will help to build a better nation.
The governor spoke in Onitsha at the inauguration of a block of classrooms which the company built at the Metropolitan College.
The project is part of the company’s sponsorship of the Ofala Festival, a popular yearly event in the town.
Obi said Globacom has demonstrated that “it is a company that truly cares about the future of this great country”.
The governor noted that the burden would be less on government, “if corporate organisations can do what Globacom is doing and partner the people and the government to bring about a better society”.
After inspecting the facilities in the classrooms, he said: “I must confess that this structure and the facilities therein show the passion Globacom has for this country. This is because when you train the young ones and give them a solid foundation, you can have a better future and society. The facilities in this block are world-class and we sincerely commend Globacom for bringing this to Onitsha.”
The governor was in company of Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha.
The monarch said it was heart-warming to note that Globacom kept the promise it made a year ago at the foundation-laying ceremony of the block of classrooms.
He said most schools in Nigeria have “become dilapidated and have become relics of their past ”.
Igwe Achebe added: “We need private and corporate interventions, like this, to help salvage the educational system in Nigeria. We are happy that Globacom kept its promise to deliver this structure in 12 months and it is important for us to maintain this structure. I want to use this opportunity to call on other corporate bodies in Nigeria to emulate Globacom and bail out our educational system.”
Globacom Chairman Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. said the banquet “is a celebration of the Obi of Onitsha as a man of honour, a distinguished and detribalised Nigerian, an accomplished captain of industry and an iconic figure who, in the last 10 years on the throne, has devoted his energy, wisdom and resources to improving the lives of his people and putting Onitsha Kingdom in the global economic and cultural maps”.
Highlight of the banquet was the cutting of the anniversary cake by Igwe Achebe. The cake was donated by Globacom.
At the inauguration of the block of classrooms, the principal of the college, Mr. C. C. Anazonwu, said the building of the structure “is geared towards empowering our youths by creating an enabling environment for effective teaching and learning”.
Globacom’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Mrs. Ben Ayede, explained that the partnership between Globacom and Onitsha residents on Ofala Festival had begun to yield good results with the empowerment of over 100 youths and the building of classrooms.
Mrs. Ayede said the company “is irrevocably committed to any projects that are tagged at eliminating poverty and empowering the Nigerian people in all facets of life”.
At the Ofala Royal Banquet, organised in honour of the monarch to mark this year’s festival and his 10th year anniversary on the throne, Igwe Achebe said Globacom has brought succor to the people.
He said the likes of Adenuga Jnr. “are few and hard to come by in Nigeria”.
