Chairman of GUO Transport, Chief Godwin Okeke, has called on governments, corporate organisations, and community stakeholders to collaborate in addressing the deteriorating state of infrastructure in secondary schools across Anambra State.
Okeke made the appeal during the commissioning of five newly constructed classroom blocks at Archbishop Onyemelukwe Grammar School, Oroma-Etiti, in Anambra West Local Government Area. The project was unveiled as part of activities marking his 77th birthday and the 72nd birthday of his wife.
The new facilities, which include fully furnished classrooms, staff offices, and modern sanitation units, were built to provide a conducive learning environment for students and teachers.
Speaking at the event, the transport entrepreneur described education as a critical foundation for sustainable development, stressing that tackling the challenges facing the sector requires a collective effort.
According to him, many schools in Anambra communities still lack essential facilities such as classrooms, desks, laboratories, and toilets, forcing students to learn under overcrowded and often unsafe conditions.
“Our goal is to promote human capital development in Anam through deliberate investment in education. Government and communities cannot do it alone. Stakeholders must also contribute their quota. With a shared vision, we can transform our schools and secure a better future for our children,” he said.
Okeke urged successful indigenes and corporate bodies to adopt schools through infrastructure support, renovation projects, and scholarship schemes.
He emphasized that investment in education should move beyond rhetoric to concrete action capable of improving learning outcomes and community development.
As part of his commitment to education, the philanthropist announced a ₦100 million scholarship fund for students from Anam. The fund will be disbursed in annual instalments of ₦20 million.
He also expressed his desire to see Anam evolve from a community known primarily for agricultural production to one engaged in both production and processing, thereby creating greater economic opportunities for residents.
During the occasion, Okeke also performed the foundation-laying ceremony for a new All Saints Anglican Church building and called on community members at home and in the diaspora to support the project.
He described the proposed church as more than a place of worship, noting that it would serve as a lasting legacy that promotes faith, unity, and development within the community.
The event featured the ceremonial planting of a birthday tree in honour of the philanthropist and attracted traditional rulers, teachers, students, community leaders, and other dignitaries from across the area.
In his sermon, the Bishop of Niger East Diocese, Rt. Rev. Obiora Uzochukwu, praised Okeke and his wife for their commitment to humanitarian service.
He described their lives as testimonies of generosity and urged others to emulate their example by supporting the less privileged and contributing to community development.
“Helping to alleviate the suffering of others is a practical way of spreading the gospel. Everyone should strive to serve humanity regardless of status,” the bishop said.
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Ivite-Anam Kingdom, Igwe Sunday Ozoemena, commended Okeke for the intervention, noting that the project would improve learning conditions and inspire more investments in community development.
On behalf of the family, Chukwuemeka Okeke assured attendees that the children of the philanthropist would continue to uphold their parents’ legacy of service and support for humanity.
