From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Family members, friends and hundreds of other well-wishers from across political, banking, education and other divide gathered in Abuja, at the weekend, for the 4th memorial lecture series of the late Amaka Ndoma-Egba, the wife of former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba.
Amaka Ndoma-Egba, alongside six others, died in an auto crash in November, 2020, on their way for a burial ceremony in Igbokoda, Ondo State. Annually, memorial lecture is held in her honour at the event pavilion of the Start-Rite School, Abuja, a school she founded 17 years ago.
This year, being the 4th in the series, the Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, led a delegation from the State to attend the event; while two former Senate Presidents, Pius Anyim and David Mark, former Minister of Justice, Bayo Ojo; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Chairman of NDLEA, Buba Marwa, several serving and non serving Senators, government officials from states and federal government, clergymen and businessmen, were conspicuously present at the event.
The event also provided opportunity for the family members and well-wishers, some of whom came from different parts of the country, to relate and recommit to the dreams and aspirations of the late banker, educationist and philanthropist, Amaka Ndoma-Egba.
Teachers, students, and other management staff of the Start-Rite School, Abuja, also turned out massively, and made presentations in form of music, dance, poem, and other artistic presentations, to celebrate the late Amaka Ndoma-Egba.
In his welcome address, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, appreciated the massive support and condolences he has received from friends and well-wishers since the death of his wife, in 2020.
He said the deluge of support has been overwhelming, and has also been the strength and inspiration that has kept him going, thereby, appreciating the calls, visits and others that showed concerns.
He said: “My late wife loved children and she never hid it. She picks up children from the street, clean them up and give them life. So, I wasn’t surprised when i was presented with about four pages of names of children that are on the pay list of my late wife.
“She was, unarguably, a builder of human beings. She built more human beings than structures. In our house, nobody is referred as house girl or boy. Everyone who entered our house became part of the family, and all of them are university graduates.
“Amaka was very full of life, but sadly, she died suddenly. I know we could do something to ensure that the people she cared for get the kind of attention she had wished for them whether alive or dead, and the only way to do that was to institutionalize the support.”
“We decided to float a Foundation, Victor & Amaka Ndoma-Egba Foundation (VANEF) which stands for helping, healing and caring, to immortalize her and care for these people that depend on her for a better tomorrow.”
Principal of School, Femi Akinlade, in his speech, said the school has witnessed tremendous growth and success, academically and otherwise, which is in line with the dreams and aspirations of the late Amaka Ndoma-Egba.
He disclosed that the school started with seven students 17 years ago, but has grown with over 800 students, and over 200 workers. “The school is running well since the death of the founder some years ago, and has achieved more success as has been the desire of late Amaka Ndoma-Egba.”
Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, in his remarks, acknowledged the importance of education to the development of any individual and society, hence the state government’s increased investment in the sector.
He appealed for the replication of the Start-Rite School in Calabar, to afford the children the opportunity to enjoy quality and affordable education, and promised all the support that might be required for the smooth takeoff and running of the educational facility in the state.
NDLEA Chairman, Marwa, who served as the Chairman of the occasion, used the opportunity to expose the students, teachers and even parents to dangers of drug and substance abuse to their lives.
He asked the students to eschew actions that could lead them to drug and substance abuse, so they can fully actualize their potentials in life.
Bishop Kukah, in a keynote address titled: “Leaders of Tomorrow: Creating Lasting Change in a Complex World”, said that Nigeria has faced prolonged underdevelopment because of undefined leadership style that is effective for the people considering the uniqueness of the people.
In addition to that, Nigeria has had accidental leaders (Presidents) in the past, and not people who had prepared for the leadership, hence it was always a case of trial and error.
“I am not talking about perfect governance system, because it’s unexisting nor found anywhere, but some leadership style that will consider the uniqueness of the people, and give them what is workable for them. Roads, water and other things being celebrated by politicians, are not dividends of democracy,” he said.
He thus challenged the parents and the school operators to help shapen the future of the children, because they are the posterity and major asset that Nigeria has.