NAN

The Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives,  Rep. Benjamin Kalu, has commended the legacy of the founder of Start-Rite Schools Abuja, late Mrs Amaka Ndoma-Egba.

Kalu gave the commendation during the 5th memorial annual lecture in honour of founder in Abuja.

The lecture was organised by the school in collaboration with the Victor & Amaka Ndoma-Egba Foundation (VANEF).

Kalu was represented by Dr Clifford Ogbede, the Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agricultural and Rural Development in the South East Development Commission.

“The late Mrs Amaka Ndoma-Egba was more than the Founder of Start-Rite Schools, she was someone who embodied a rare blend of discipline, compassion, and unwavering belief in the transformative power of education.

“She believed that excellence should not be constrained by circumstance and that every child deserves the opportunity to rise beyond the limitations of the environment.

“I charge leaders, educators, policymakers and parents, to strive to create systems and build communities that are inclusive, innovative and future-ready.

“Resilience is not accidental, it is built through values, vision and intentional investment in people.

“The idea of going beyond boundaries is a call to stretch our imagination about what education, leadership and community development should be.

“It urges us to dismantle the invisible walls created by access gaps and inequality,” Kalu said.

According to him, the works of Mrs Ndoma-Egba is a reminder that transformative progress happens when we dare to reimagine what is possible and then take bold action to make it real.

He added that, building resilient communities requires more than infrastructure or policy frameworks.

“It demands character, empathy, unity and a shared commitment to the common good. In a world of rapid technological, economic and social shifts, resilience is the currency of survival.

“She understood this and she built a school that not only teaches but shapes citizens who can navigate uncertainty and live with purpose. That is the kind of community that ensures tomorrow is stronger than today,” Kalu said.

Also, the Keynote Speaker, former Governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke, emphasised the importance of giving back to the society.

“Most societies in the world have been built not necessarily by government, but by those private individuals who have made it and  are giving back. And this is what late Amaka Ndoma-Egba has done.

““If each and every one of us in the elite class in Nigeria can give back something to those outside our immediate family, we will be a great nation,” Duke said.

The Advisory Board Chairman of the school and husband of the founder, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba in his address of welcome said the Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture is more than a commemoration.

“It is a hub for ideas, a marketplace of knowledge, and a platform where the experience of today’s leaders meets the aspirations of tomorrow’s generation.

“Start-Rite Schools, with its motto, “Securing the Future”, provides young minds with the opportunity to engage with visionaries, learn from exemplary leaders, and cultivate the mindset needed to lead with integrity, creativity, and impact,” he said.

Also, the Principal of Start-Rite Schools, Mr Femi Akinlade, noted that five years after the death of the Founder, the school has continued to grow stronger with the guidance of the Board led by her husband, Ndoma-Egba.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of VANEF, Mr Joseph Oru, said the Foundation was established to sustain the values the late Amaka stood for.

The memorial lecture featured arts and photography exhibition where the creativity, talent and artistic skills of the students were showcased.

The event attracted dignitaries such as former governor of Edo State, Sen. Oserheimen Osunbor, former Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, and his wife, Justice Folashade Ojo of the Court of Appeal, Cardinal John Onayekan, Bishop Anselm Umoren and many others. (NAN)

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