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Deputy Speaker lauds legacy of founder of Start-Ride School Abuja

Published

6 months ago

November 25, 2025

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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FG Commits To National Development With Major Contract Agreements — Umahi

Published

14 hours ago

May 14, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Works, has again signed landmark contract agreements with four (4) construction firms to execute critical road projects across the country, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The contract signing ceremony, held on Thursday at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Mabushi, Abuja, marks another major step in the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering durable, sustainable road infrastructure that enhances connectivity, stimulates economic growth, and improves the quality of life of Nigerians.

The four contractors and their respective projects are as follows:

1. Messrs J. Patel and Sons Nigeria Limited – Reconstruction of Mando (Kaduna) – Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State,

2. Messrs JRB Construction Company Limited – Dualisation of Ibadan–Ijebu Ode Road in Oyo and Ogun States,

3. Messrs Truecrete Solutions Limited – Construction of Osogbo–Ikirun–Akoda Road in Osun State and

4. Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited – Construction of Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan Road in Osun and Oyo States.

Speaking during the event, the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, described the projects as strategic national infrastructure designed to boost economic activities, improve transportation efficiency, and strengthen national integration. He noted that the reconstruction of the Mando (Kaduna) –Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna State holds special significance, as it was one of the key infrastructure development commitments made by His Excellency, President Tinubu during the 2022/2023 electioneering campaigns. According to the Minister, the present administration remains resolute in its determination to deliver world-class infrastructure that will stand the test of time. “Our vision is to build roads that will last for generations. Under the Renewed Hope administration, we are determined to deliver infrastructure that can serve Nigerians for up to 100 years through the adoption of rigid pavement (concrete) technology,” Umahi stated.

The Minister commended the selected contractors for their competence, track records, and proven capacity, emphasising the Federal Government’s confidence in indigenous contractors. He particularly praised Messrs JRB Construction Company Limited, Truecrete Solutions Limited, and other indigenous firms for their commendable performances on previous projects across the country.

Umahi charged all contractors to mobilise to their respective project sites immediately and commence work without delay, stressing that the Ministry expects measurable progress within the stipulated timelines.

Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Olarinre Adeladan, who formally signed the contract agreements, described the occasion as the successful completion of the procurement process and the official commencement of project implementation.

He commended the leadership of the Ministry for its commitment to ensuring that projects reached the execution stage and reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to effective monitoring, quality assurance, and timely delivery.

Also speaking, the Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Mr. Clement Ogbuagu, presented details of the awarded contracts as follows:

1. Reconstruction of Mando–Birnin Gwari Road, Kaduna State

Contractor: Messrs J. Patel and Sons Nigeria Limited

Contract Sum: ₦178,116,787,162.00

Length: 122 Kilometres

2. Dualisation of Ibadan–Ijebu Ode Road, Oyo and Ogun States

Contractor: JRB Construction Company Limited,

Contract Sum: ₦295,996,609,992.77

Length: 114.5 Kilometres (Single Carriageway Equivalent)

3. Construction of Osogbo–Ikirun–Akoda Road, Osun State

Contractor: Truecrete Solutions Limited

Contract Sum: ₦101,806,585,825.90

Length: 70 Kilometres (Single Carriageway Equivalent) and

4. Construction of Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan Road, Osun State

Contractor: Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited

Contract Sum: ₦114,854,477,607.93

Length: 73 Kilometres

All the projects will be executed using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) technology, in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to building durable, cost-effective, and sustainable road infrastructure nationwide.

The ceremony represents another significant milestone in the Federal Government’s drive to modernise Nigeria’s road network and accelerate national economic development.

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