Day Ozara indigenes in US brought smile to their land

JANUARY 1 was a day many people across the world celebrated the New Year’s day irrespective of religion and political inclinations.

In Ozara community in Enugu-West Local Government Area of Enugu State, it was a day the people of the community living in the United States of America (USA) set aside to extend their goodwill to their country home.

The Ozara Union USA (OUUSA) used the day to inaugurate a science laboratory worth over N25 million for Ozara High School built by them.

The newly constructed laboratory is a total remodel of a dilapidated laboratory block that left the secondary school without a functional laboratory.

While inaugurating the science laboratory inside the school premises, the President of OUUSA, Chief Larry Okoh, said the project was in line with the group’s dedication to assisting educational growth in the community.

Okoh said: “Primarily, since 2005, we embarked on educational projects. Initially it was primary schools, we offered scholarships to pupils going over to secondary schools, donated text and exercise books every year. We built a full primary school block and now we’ve moved to secondary school level. They didn’t have a laboratory but we came and built this one being inaugurated today which cost us over N25 million.’’

According to him, “The next step is to equip the laboratory. We sponsor our projects by donations and we have immediately started to donate for it because the money for the equipment is little compared to what we spent building the laboratory.

“Our motivation is simple. We are Ozalla people living in USA, some of us had our secondary education here. When I visited here as my alma mater, I discovered that the science laboratory was no more and we had to execute the project.

“This is the job of government but you cannot wait for government all the time but we hope that the government will come and assist us. About N7 million is required to furnish the laboratory and so we call on the government to step in so that it will be a complete laboratory,” he added.

The Principal of the school, Mr. Cammy Onyia, expressed appreciation to the group, noting that it was a prayer answered through OUUSA.

He called for further assistance from government, individuals and other groups to fully equip the laboratory with reagents and described the diaspora group as “marvelous OUUSA.”

The Minister for Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu, who was represented by a Director in the ministry, Dr. Chiemeze Aguyi, called for more private sector investments in education and asked the school to judiciously use the facility.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state who was also represented by his Special Adviser on Diaspora and Special Projects, Mrs. Olangwa Ezekwe said the state government will continue to support the effort of the group and praised the group for their good work of giving back to their community.

The dignitaries who made donations for the equipment of the laboratory included the former Minister for Information, Mr. Frank Nweke (Junior) Ex- Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, among others.