Her story was aired on NTA Newsline on Sunday March 25th 2012. A concerned citizen wrote what you are about to read after watching the programme...
A young lady, Ime Anwana, a Batch "A" corps member, was posted to serve in the NNPC depot in Niger State. She visited a friend serving at a local girls secondary secondary in the nearby village of Kaffin Koro and was told the school has no chemistry teacher.
A young lady, Ime Anwana, a Batch "A" corps member, was posted to serve in the NNPC depot in Niger State. She visited a friend serving at a local girls secondary secondary in the nearby village of Kaffin Koro and was told the school has no chemistry teacher.
Ime volunteered to use her free time on Friday evenings to teach chemistry to the students - free of charge. While teaching in the school she saw the sorry state of the student accommodation and took it upon upon herself to do something about it.
She raised the sum of 3.8 million naira and supervised the building of a student hostel equipped with 40 double bunk beds complete with mattresses.
One fateful day, while riding on a motorbike taxi (Okada) on the way to the project site she had an accident that killed the Okada rider and seriously injured her. She spent three weeks in a coma and was bed-ridden for three months.
On the NTA Newsline programme it was shown how the village of Kaffin Koro rolled out the drums to honour Miss Anwana for her work for them. The District Head of the village, Alhaji Abubakar Mamman gave her the chieftaincy title of Jekadiyan Kaffin Koro (Ambassador of Kaffin Koro) and also a piece of land in the village.
Ponder this:
1. Niger State, Ime's host state, is the home state of two former Presidents of the Federal Republic - Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar. Ironically (and sadly), one of them recently hosted a high-profile meeting in the same state to "discuss" the problem in the North. All they need is few minutes trip to Kaffin Koro and they will see the problem staring them in the eyes.
2. In the NTA Newsline report there was neither representation nor acknowledgement of Miss Anwana's work from - or - by her host, Niger State Government.
3. Paiko Local Government, under whose jurisdiction Kaffin Koro falls, has a Local Government Chairman, a State Assembly Representative, a National Assembly Representative and a Senator in Abuja. They all know (or should know) the state of that school long before Miss Anwana left her native Akwa Ibom State and arrived there. Don't you now think that the system is broken?
4. Miss Anwana's action throws a challenge not only to the Mandarins in the Northern political set up but also to young northerners closer to her age who have either silently acquiesced to the status quo or have been driven into the welcome arms of religious extremist due to the dearth of opportunities in the North.
If you are a reading this and you are a northerner - silently admit to yourself that Ime's action has shamed most of us. And then pledge to do whatever you can, no matter how little, to reverse the decline (moral, educational, social, economic) in your community.
NB.
Please suggest ways that you think Miss Ime should be honored, so that it will serve as a form of encouragement to those that really have the country at heart (like her good self), not the bunch of rougues we have as our representatives, who think of nothing but how to perpetuate doing what they do best: STEALING THE MONEY THAT CROSSES THEIR WAY & SEARCH AND CART AWAY THE ONE THEY DO NOT SEE TOO.
Please pass the message around, it may luckily reach the THIEVING ROGUES. Even if they do not change, it will prick their conscience, if they have one.
May God cause to bring change to our dear Country in ANYWAY He knows how.
God Bless Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Abuja, March 28, 2012
CELEBRATING IME ANWANA.
I present to you, the young Lady of distinction, a pride to her people, a paradox of beauty, amiable young Lady, dedicated to her cause to serving her Nation. Miss Ime Anwana, my friend and sister, my newest Idol especially in a Country where youths have lost vision and have no hope in their tomorrow.
Miss Ime Anwana, a young lady, a Batch "A" corps member, was posted to serve in the NNPC depot in Niger State. She visited a friend serving at a local girls secondary secondary in the nearby village of Kaffin Koro and was told the school has no chemistry teacher. Ime volunteered to use her free time on Friday evenings to teach chemistry to the students - free of charge. While teaching in the school she saw the sorry state of the student accommodation and took it upon upon herself to do something about it.
'She raised the sum of 3.8 million naira and supervised the building of a student hostel equipped with 40 double bunk beds complete with mattresses.'
Many of us would have diverted the money for our personal use, imagine what this beautiful Lady accomplished, I just couldn't stop thinking of what this young woman has accomplished in just over 25 years on earth. How wont God receive her into his Kingdom even if she'd died in that fatal accident, but he saved her.
God has blessed me with a very beautiful friend, i wont stop at celebrating this shinning light.
Ime Anwana deserves a National honour.
Michael Mathew
