The Ras Tony Ekoh Foundation, has paid school fees for 170 orphaned and vulnerable primary school pupils spread across nine primary schools in Ugep, Yakurr LGA, as part of the Foundation’s resolve to bring succour to these category of persons in the society, www.calitown.com can reveal.
At well attended ceremonies in the primary schools, James Ikpi, Director of Physical Planning, University of Calabar, who led members of the Foundation, family members and friends on a visit to the primary schools where the physical presentation of cash was made to the headteachers, informed all present that it has become necessary for the Foundation to focus on community help initiatives like this that have an immediate impact on the community.
He added that as the Foundation marks the 11th anniversary of the passing on of Tony Ekoh, a University of Ibadan doctoral student at the time of his death, it has become imperative that focus must shift to impacting on the immediate community. “Tony stood and lived for the downtrodden, especially young and vulnerable pupils like these who have been dealt a very unfortunate blow by death. The Foundation cannot sit back and see life end for these kids, we must do what Tony would have ideally done in this kind of circumstance. It is a continuous commitment that we do, year in, year out, to immortalise Tony and make life less stressful and more meaningful for kids like this who maybe pressured by the circumstances to drop out of school. Please the Foundation will plead that the funds must be diligently and appropriately applied so that our efforts will not come to nought”, he pleaded.
At the Ofeletam Primary School, Egbizum, Ugep, the Foundation made a further commitment to support the education and welfare of a set of orphaned triplets, who lost both parents early in their lives and have been sustained by the welfare of good spirited individuals.
In all the schools visited, the headteachers expressed joy and while commiting to judicious and appropriate application of funds, prayed that God will continue to bless the Foundation with the grace to continue her good works.
The late Tony Ekoh, a consummate theatre artist, curated the Afro-centric spot in Ugep, popularly known as Ethiopia, and made it a leveller and meeting point for all manner of men without any class distinction. He was born on. October 18, 1966 and passed away on October 28, 2010.
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