The Oginibo community in Delta State has benefited from a significant educational intervention as 65 final year students received full sponsorship for their National Examination Council registration fees. The initiative, aimed at restoring access to examination opportunities, was facilitated by the State Commissioner for Works, Comrade Izeze Rume Reuben, in partnership with FOOSTODEY Associates.
The total sponsorship amounted to ₦2,200,250, covering the full registration cost of ₦33,850 for each candidate drawn from Oginibo community and neighbouring areas. This gesture followed the successful reactivation of the NECO examination centre at Oginibo Secondary School, which had earlier been deactivated.
In 2025, the Commissioner’s Special Assistant on Special Duties, Mr Tisha Ejekanshe Matthew, alerted Izeze to the situation. Acting promptly, the Commissioner engaged the NECO Zonal Office, leading to an assessment and eventual restoration of the centre after the school met the required standards.
School Principal, Mrs Evelyn Omejevwe Ejiofor, lauded the timely intervention, describing it as life changing for students who could not afford the fees. She also commended the Commissioner for consistent contributions, including payment of allowances for community hired teachers over the past two years.
However, the Principal used the occasion to call on the Delta State Government to declare a state of emergency in grassroots education. She cited a severe shortage of teaching staff, revealing that the school relies heavily on community hired teachers. Critical subjects such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Economics, and Physics are currently understaffed, with only one teacher handling Physics.
Mr Matthew, representing the sponsors, urged the beneficiaries to justify the investment through academic excellence. He encouraged them to remain focused and prepare diligently for the examination.
