What began like a childhood dream for Mr. Odita Sunday-Udemaguna, popularly known as Odita Sunday; a Senior Journalist with The Guardian Newspapers, Lagos; some years ago became manifest in 2017 with the maiden edition of what is now known as Back to School Project. Since then, it has turned an annual festival and the third edition held recently at Amed Hotel Event Centre, at Onicha Ugbo, Delta State with dignitaries, especially in the police circle in attendance.

It is, however, necessary to say that it did not happen by accident but by a painstaking effort of a dreamer who is bent on actualising his dream. So with some savings from his monthly income and goodwill of few trusted friends, the young man who is in his early 40s has dared to thread where some older men could not walk.

With a determined heart passionately garnished to be a destiny helper to the teeming less privileged ones in our society particularly his Delta State home, the Auchi Polytechnic Mass Communication graduate chose to make a statement in the public space that one does not need to be a millionaire before he gives a helping hand to the needy.

To give his dream a wider outlook, Odita had initiated a Non-Governmental Organization known as Anioma Youth Network for Development (AYND) as a vehicle to drive the project with some of his professional colleagues as volunteers.

During the maiden edition of the programme in 2017, a total of 112 students and pupils within the less privileged bracket majority of whom are orphans benefitted from AYND by way of school bags, mathematical sets, notebooks, literature books and other learning materials.

In 2018 edition, a total of 111 beneficiaries had gathered at Onicha Ugbo during the second edition to similarly receive school materials as the new academic session was about to begin. To demonstrate his passion for the needy beyond the level of orphans and those with poor parents, the AYND Founder and Coordinator had used the occasion to assist two widows with the sum of N25,000 each to begin some small scale business.

To all intents and purposes, he has chosen not to allow the spirit of giving wane as in other circumstances of life. It was therefore not surprising that on August 31, 2019 the third edition of the Back to School Programme took place once again at Onicha Ugbo. No fewer than 100 students and pupils from Onicha Ugbo, Issele-Uku, Ubulu-Uku, Obior, Asaba, Igbodo communities shared in the school materials made available courtesy of the group like in previous years. It was an occasion one would not forget in a hurry as one speaker after the other took turns to appreciate Odita Sunday for his selfless Initiative to help the less privileged ones and the sustainability of the project with remarkable improvement in each edition.

Speaking in his capacity as the Royal Father of the Day, the Onicha Ugbo monarch, His Royal Majesty, Agbogidi Victor Chukwumalieze recalled how difficult it was for less privileged Children of his generation to access western education due to poor parental background and lack of help. He explained that less privileged children in contemporary time, are luckier than his generation as kind-hearted persons like the AYND Founder were ready to give some helping hands which was not the case in yesteryears.

The monarch who took time to advise the school children to leverage on the opportunity offered them via the Back to School Programme to become good citizens of Nigeria by shunning social vices that now ravage our society.

Earlier in his welcome speech, Odita Sunday had pointed out that the Back to School Programme was strategically planned to take place at a time when primary and secondary schools in the country were about to resume for a new academic session, stressing that;

“It is a period parents are usually under pressure to pay school fees and buy all the necessary books and materials for their children and wards.”

Elsewhere, some Foundations and NGOs have been founded with the ultimate aim of serving as a springboard for the actualisation of future political ambition, but this seems not to be the case for Odita at least for now. In his speeches over the years at the various editions of the Back to School Programme, he has continued to emphasize it that

“I am personally not driven by any political intentions or monetary gains but rather by the passion to be by my brothers and sisters keeper through this onerous task of trying to give a helping hand to our less privileged ones.”

If there is any living Nigerian philanthropist the AYND Founder would like to adopt as his model in his attempt to enlarge his giving spirit, it is certainly Dr. Ned Nwoko; an Idumuje-Ugboko prince and former member, House of Representatives. Perhaps, that was the reason the theme of this year’s event was aptly titled; DON’T GIVE TO GET, GIVE TO INSPIRE. Like last year, he added two widows to the list of beneficiaries this year and each of them went home with N25,000 to engage themselves in trading.

According to him, Honourable Nwoko’s philanthropic gesture has become legendary and it inspires him as the astute politician does not give for any material reward but rather out of the passion to help humanity. One was therefore not surprised to learn at the recent third edition of the Back to School Programme that Ned Nwoko as the Special Guest of Honour has pledged to continually identify with the aspirations of AYND in the years to come.

Though he was not physically present at the event yet was ably represented by one of his aides who spoke on his behalf. Nwoko commended Odita Sunday’s Initiative for founding AYND and the effort so far in sustaining the Back to School Programme. As a laudable Initiative that is in sync with his own feelings for humanity, the STARS University Founder, promised to always assist the AYND in realising the objectives of the group.

A former House of Representatives member and currently the Director-General, Asaba Capital Territory, Hon. Amaechi Mrakpor was also full of praises for the AYND and its founder for deeming it fit to identify with the needs of the less privileged in the society. Speaking through her representative, Surveyor Andrew Uwaje, the former lawmaker noted that for any child to have a strong foundation in life, he or she needs a very good educational background. She has therefore commended AYND for taking the bold step to encourage less privileged children in our environment.

Similarly, the Delta State Police Commissioner, Adeyinka Adeleke who was represented by his Area Commander in Charge of Ogwashi Uku, Assistant Commissioner of Police Uche Obiozor took time to share with the students and pupils who probably were having their first opportunity to ever been addressed by a police officer, the dangers of associating with social vices.

He encouraged them to learn how to live a contented life by not coveting what does not belong to them and neither should they bow to ungodly peer group influence that could lead them into crime. He encouraged them to aspire to be great doctors, engineers, lawyers, journalists and so on and shun the get rich quick syndrome which has largely devalued our culture.

Speaking in a similar vein, the Vicar of St. Stephens Anglican Church, Onicha Ugbo, Rev. Ijezie admonished the children to always remain appreciative of what AYND has done for them just as the man of God also reminded parents of the Biblical command that they should train their children in the way they should go, so that when they grow up, they would not depart from it.

The third edition of the Back to School Programme had a slight difference as quiz competition for secondary school students featured. It added some colour to the occasion as the intellectual capacity of the students were challenged both in current affairs, Christian Religious Knowledge and spelling of selected words. Previous editions never had it and the event Organisers have promised to introduce more side attractions in future editions.

Students of three Colleges namely St. Pius Grammar School, Onicha Ugbo Mixed Secondary School and St. Stephens College took part in the competition but St. Pius Grammar School eventually emerged the winner and carted away an electric cooker as the winning prize.

Copies of the Holy Bible which were donated by the Commander in Charge of Area F, Lagos State Police Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police Akinbayo Olasoji were also shared among the students and some guests at the event. They, in turn, showered praises on AYND and all donors who made the occasion memorable.