UNICEF, ENUGU STATE GOVT & NGO BEGIN BACK TO SCHOOL CAMPAIGN
REPORTER: EMEFIENA OKONKWO
Residents of Enugu State, especially pupils, students and their teachers as well as parents, are encouraged to sustain observance of the COVID-19 guidelines for their safety and that of the public.
The Executive Chairman, Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Chief Ikeje Asogwa, gave the advice in a message to the launch of the Back to School campaign in Isi-Uzo and Aninri Local Government Areas of Enugu State.
Chief Asogwa noted that the campaign, which is a collaboration among UNICEF, ENSUBEB and Global Partnership in Education (GPE) among other things, was to sensitized the people to the need for them to bring back their children and wards to school as the COVID-19 pandemic is being contained with vaccines and the established protocol.
He commended the State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for ensuring that learning and hygiene facilities were provided in schools.
Also, in a message to the occassion, the Chief, United Nations Children’s Fund , (UNICEF), Enugu Field Office, Dr. Ibrahim Conteh, urged the pupils, students, teachers and school administrators to continue to wash their hands with soap and water or using alchohol based hand sanitizer and observe social distancing.
Dr. Conteh stated that the virus, especially the Delta variant was still much around, though the battle against the virus was gradually being won, thanks to the vaccines and protocol.
Earlier in an address, the ENSUBEB, Desk Officer at UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Miss Caroline Chigbo, noted that the sensitization included state planning meeting on Back to School campaign as well as Town Hall Meetings with traditional rulers, town union presidents, village heads, the clergy, women leaders and youths.
Reacting to the sensitization, the traditional ruler of Umualor Community in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Igwe Hilary Ugwu, and the President General of the Community, Chief Festus Ugwu, commended ENSUBEB, UNICEF and GPE for the programme.
They pledged to pass the message to the people to ensure that all the children returned back to school.
Officials that participated in the sensitization, included a director in the Enugu State Ministry of Education, Mr. Chris Edenwatu; Education Specialist with UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Dr. Agatha Nzeribe; Director, Social Mobilization, Mrs. Ego Eze; Director Social Services, Mrs. Julie Ugwu and Health Surviliance Officer, Mrs. Stella Agu.
