More than 65 final-year students of Oginibo Secondary School, Oginibo, in Delta State, have received a major educational lifeline as their National Examination Council (NECO) registration fees were fully sponsored by the Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Izeze Rume Reuben, in collaboration with FOOSTODEY Associates.
The intervention, which benefits students from Oginibo and neighbouring communities, is aimed at expanding access to examination opportunities and reducing the financial burden on parents amid prevailing economic challenges.
The sponsorship comes months after the successful reactivation of the school's NECO examination centre, which had previously been deactivated.
The process leading to the restoration of the centre began in 2025 after the Commissioner’s Special Assistant on Special Duties, Mr. Tisha Ejekanshe Matthew, drew attention to the issue. Following engagements with the NECO Zonal Office, an assessment was conducted, and the centre was subsequently restored after the school met all requirements.
To ensure the reactivated centre commenced operations successfully, Comrade Izeze and FOOSTODEY Associates pledged to sponsor the registration of the first batch of candidates, a promise that has now been fulfilled.
Each of the 65 beneficiaries received full sponsorship covering the NECO registration fee of ₦33,850, bringing the total value of the intervention to ₦2,200,250.
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Representing the sponsors during a visit to the school, Mr. Matthew urged the students to make the most of the opportunity by dedicating themselves to their studies.
"This support should inspire you to work harder, stay focused on your academic goals, form study groups, and prepare adequately for your examinations," he advised.
The Principal of Oginibo Secondary School, Mrs. Evelyn Omejevwe-Ejiofor, expressed gratitude to the Commissioner and FOOSTODEY Associates for what she described as a timely and impactful intervention.
According to her, many of the beneficiaries would have struggled to pay for the examination without the sponsorship.
"This gesture is not only timely but life-changing for many of our students and their families," she said.
Mrs. Omejevwe-Ejiofor also commended Comrade Izeze for his continued commitment to educational development in the community, noting that he has consistently supported the school, including the payment of allowances for community teachers over the last two years.
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While appreciating the intervention, the principal drew attention to the challenges confronting education in rural communities across the state.
She called on the Delta State Government to declare a state of emergency in grassroots education, citing an acute shortage of teachers in public secondary schools.
According to her, Oginibo Secondary School currently depends heavily on community-hired teachers, with key subjects such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Economics, and Physics facing serious staffing gaps.
She disclosed that only one teacher is currently responsible for teaching Physics in the school, stressing the urgent need for the recruitment of qualified educators to improve learning outcomes.
The principal further appealed to the Commissioner and other well-meaning stakeholders to sustain their support for the school and help address its pressing educational needs.
The sponsorship programme has since been widely praised by members of the community, who described it as a significant investment in the future of young learners and a practical step toward improving access to quality education in underserved areas.
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