PDP Chieftain Establishes Tuition-Free Secondary School For Community

In line with his philosophy of always giving back something to the society, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Barr. Ekong Sampson, has again initiated a priceless package for youths of the area.

Barr. Sampson, a politician who has been nurtured and promoted by the PDP since 1999, has established a secondary school in his community, Ikot Unya, Ikpa Ikono Clan.

He explained that he established the school, but it is funded by him and community as part of effort to consolidate on the free and compulsory education policy of the PDP-led state government, enhance the outlook of the youths and serve as the bedrock for community development.

To Barr. Sampson, the PDP has been so generous to him by giving him the platform to serve his people and Akwa Ibom State in several capacities and establishing a secondary school is one of the ways he could appreciate the party and his people for their support to him since 1999.

The school, Excellence College, Ikot Unya, which was established in February 2014, with 13 students, currently has 327 students, 20 permanent teachers, four National Youth Service Corps members as well as many non-academic and auxiliary staff.

A statement about the school made available to The Scroll, indicates that the institution caters for the secondary education need of the people of the host community and seven adjourning villages, meaning that this must have been responsible for the rapid population growth in Excellence College.

The principal of the school, Mr. Amayak Uko , stated that Excellence College has been running tuition-free sessions since its establishment and depends on the proprietor and the community for sponsorship and payment of staff salaries, including allowances of corps members.

He disclosed that the commitment of Barr. Sampson and the community to the development of the institution has made Excellence College a pace-setter in academic and morals and listed some of the programmes in the school to include trade and craft training and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

The statement indicated that the school has a rich library, well equipped science laboratory, basic technology workshops, ventilated classrooms, computer and ICT facilities.

According to the principal, the school is currently participating inthe JETS, STAN and other UNESCO supported quiz competitions in science and technology in the state.

”Excellence School clinched the first and second positions in the cultural display and match past respectively in both the 2016 independence and Children Day celebrations, while the students exhibited rare talent in the school’s inter-house and inter-class sports events,” the statement stated.

Furthermore, the statement indicated that the response of parents and the community to Barr. Sampson’s generosity in establishing the school has been that of gratitude, respect, care and love, disclosing that recently, women and youths voluntarily cleaned up the school compound.

Apart from parents, other members of the community are also grateful to the PDP chieftain for establishing the school.

The immediate past councillor for Ikpa Ikono ward II in the MkpatEnin Legislative Council, Hon. Nkereuwem James described Barr. Sampson as a worthy ambassador of PDP whose contributions to the socio-political and economic life of his people, over the years, have made the party an acceptable platform in Ikpa Ikono clan and the local government area.

He reiterated the position of Barr. Ememobong Nicholas, the president of the Fourth House, a group of young intellectuals from Mkpat Enin, that Barr. Sampson is a philanthropist and politician with the passion for development of people and places.

While describing the establishment and joint funding of the school with the community as part of the Ekong Sampson Empowerment Programme (ESEP), he said the former council chairman had earlier floated free skill acquisition schemes, paid bursary and awarded scholarship to over 300 students of Mkpat Enin extraction and ran a subsized commercial transport system for youths.

He described ESEP as a true expression of the Dakkada initiative, adding that he hopes to see other well-placed indigenes of the area emulate the idea.

The youth leader of Ikpa Ikono ward II, Comrade Micah Ufot also said Barr. Sampson has done the greatest thing for the youths of Mkpat Enin, adding that few years from now, the school might face the challenge of space if provisions for new classroom blocks are not made, because students from every section of the local government area are withdrawing from public schools to Excellence College. He disclosed that each ward in Mkpat Enin has a signature project initiated by ESEP.

Barr. Sampson was first appointed by Senator Udoma Udo Udoma in 1999 as his legislative aide, a position he held until 2003, when he was appointed the chairman of Mkpat Enin Caretaker Committee by then Gov. Victor Attah.

Before then, he had emerged the PDP chairmanship candidate in Mkpat Enin in 2002. In the 2004 local government elections, Barr. Sampson was elected a councillor and later emerged in an electoral college as the head of council for Mkpat Enin.

In 2007 and 2011, the PDP again gave him a platform to contest the assembly elections. In 2015, Gov. Emmanuel appointed Sampson as the Commissioner for Rural Development as well as Special Adviser Bureau of Political, Legislative Affairs and Water Resources in the just constituted State Executive Council.