Norcross Memorial Cathedral in Otukpo, Benue State, on Sunday, celebrated with Andrew Egwa’s family, who unveiled a foundation in honour of Agnes Eloyi Egwa.
Agnes Egwa was a prominent primary school teacher and devoted Methodist Church member who started her profession in Kaduna in the 80s before moving to Otukpo.
She taught in Army Children School, Kakuri, Kaduna, Army Children School, Ojira, Otukpo, and LGA, Ewupi.
The foundation was unveiled by retired 85-year-old educationist, Sunday Agbebe Obodumu, his wife, a retired lecturer, Ochudo, and the Presbyter of Norcross Memorial Cathedral, Very Rev. Simon Omale.
At the Easter Sunday service, where the Egwa’s family had a thanksgiving and remembrance of their parents, ArchBishop of the Diocese of Apa, Most Rev. Yusuf Ngbede, said the honour to Agnes Egwa after 30 years, and her husband, Andrew, was also to the church, community, and the teaching profession.
“Honour to parents is not only when they are alive. Their legacies should also be sustained. You have immortalised your parents. God bless you,” he added.
The foundation reached more than 600 children in the two schools Egwa taught in her lifetime, and all the children in the service with given branded notebooks, pens, pencils, water bottles and other School materials.
The Head teachers of Army Children School, Mr Adeka Ekatugwu and LGA, Ewupi, Owoicho Ikpekwu, thanked the family for launching a foundation to support children in primary schools.
“Children have challenges in buying basic writing materials, and we are very glad that God laid it in your heart to honour your mother, and sustain her legacy,” Adeka stated.
The Agnes and Andrew Foundation, registered as a private charity organisation, was envisioned by Oche Echeija Egwa, Deputy Director, Information, Office of the Special Adviser to the President, Media, Owoicho Godwins Egwa, Deputy Commandant, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Inalegwu Egwa, Nigerian Railways Corporation and Oyiwona Egwa.
Oche Egwa, while distributing the school materials after Easter Service at Norcross Cathedral, said the foundation would be largely sponsored by a percentage of his salary and allowances as a public servant and support from friends and family members.
Oche Egwa said their parents devoted their lives to supporting education of children, particularly the less privileged in local communities.
He said that the foundation would focus on education, health and welfare of children.
“Our mother passed at 38 in 1996. She was a committed teacher all her life. Our father, a retired Sales Manager, with the Nigerian Breweries, died in 2015.
“It is the joy of our lives to set up a foundation that will carry on with their legacy of education for the less privileged, and proper foundation of knowledge for children,” he added.(NAN)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz
