A Cross River State based educational trust fund over the weekend donated ten computer sets to Edgerley Memorial Girls Secondary School in Calabar.
The former director-general of the State Security Service (SSS), Mr Ekpeyong Ita, who is the promoter of the donor Trust – Teacher Esien Ita Itam Educational Trust Fund – said the gesture was to reciprocate the goodwill of the school in naming a hall after his late wife, Barr. Temitope Ekpeyong Ita.
Ita, who was represented at the occasion by Mrs Umoh Etim, said “to reciprocate this thoughtfulness by the school in honouring my late wife, the Trust Fund has provided 10 computer sets, powered by a generating set to the school. We intend to gradually increase the number of computers to the school, until the school becomes a centre for JAMB examinations.
“In this era where Information Communications Technology powers the affairs of the world, we at the Trust Fund thought this modest contribution best suits the times especially at this foundation stage of these children.
“As we have said, we intend to do more. If we need quality in our educational system, we don’t have to leave that weight on government alone. It’s huge for government. It has to be contributory. That is exactly the reason we intervene in the sector”, he said.
The Trust Fund also donated a trophy to the school for a track event.
Receiving the items, the Principal of the school, Mrs Iquo Oboko Oku, in her remarks said: “we are deeply grateful for this donation. We promise to protect them and I assure you that they will be well utilised for the betterment of these students and to the glory of God”
Since it was founded in 2014 by the late Barr. Ita, Teacher Esien Ita Itam Educational Trust Fund has consistently offered 50 scholarships every year to indigent students from the Cross River South Senatorial District. To date, about 400 students have benefitted from the scholarship scheme of the Trust Fund.
Last year, the Trust Fund intervened and filled the potholes in a major road in the University of Calabar.
“With availability of funds, we intend to spread to every part of the State and embark on bigger projects”, Mr Ita said.
Teacher Esien Ita Itam Educational Trust Fund is named after the late father of the former head of the secret police.