A non-governmental organization, The Universal Education Care for Empowerment Foundation (UECEF has promised to coordinate the establishment of Bodo City Community Public Library in Gokana Local Government Area.
The Executive Director of the Foundation, Rev. Evang. Moses Nyimale Lezor who made the pledge during a prayer and peace community procession by Bebor Int’l Group of Schools at the palace of the menebon, King of Bodo City in Bodo City on Monday, 28th March, 2022, said a public library in Bodo City would enable youths to have focused minds and bring about the much needed community regeneration, socio-spiritual revival, peaceful co-existence and emotional transformation.
He stressed further that the need for such a project is long overdue looking at the fact that Bodo (the largest native town in the Deltaic region) has always been at the forefront of producing the first in the over five hundred communities of the Ogoni nationality.
He listed the Bodo City array of ‘firsts’ to include the premier secondary school, St. Pius X college, first medical doctor; the late Dr. Patta, the first pilot, Mr. Porokie; the first Secretary to the Rivers State Government, the late admirable A.T. Badey; and the first model, popular, prestigious leadership kindergarten educational institution; the Bebor Int’l Group of School, adding that through the school, foreign educational aid were attracted into Bodo City and Ogoniland.
He appealed to the conscience of members of Bodo Chiefs’ council, the Bodo Development Committee, religious bodies and youth groups on the need for a concerted effort in ensuring that a public community secondary school is instituted at Bodo (the great Sabrigbo communities).
His words: “How can our beloved community, which was the harbinger of Western education civilization and development into other parts of Ogoni now appear to lag behind in terms of a free government post primary educational institution during my formative years, had it been Saint Pius X College is not in existence as a free school, where one will school free, I would not have had the benefits of that level of education due very poor financial background.
“Now that SPXC has been taken over by the Mission, there is then the needs for the community leadership to support all positive actions that can enable the community to secure an alternative public secondary school which it will be either mixed or boys only”
Rev. Evangelist Lezor promised to render his own free support if called upon to do so, hoping that if done, the dreamed secondary school could be actualized into the land of the “Saints and the Wise.”
In his response, the Chairman of Bodo Council of Chiefs and Elders, Chief John LeBari Vilola, on behalf of the Menebon-in-Council, promised that the request which he described as worthwhile, timely and resourceful, would be tabled for deliberation and possible consideration before the Menebon King of Bodo City.
Highlights of the occasion was a group photograph by members of the Chiefs’ Council, Bebor Group of Schools, Bebor Corpers’ Foundation and pupils/students with various degree of disabilities who are on the Priscilla Lezor Scholarship for Children with Disabilities as well as the donation of a bucket of broom to the Council members while they reciprocate with gift of refreshment and another promise to assist the Bebor management financially towards the roofing of the remaining parts of the Bebor Tower College four (4) classroom blocks.
