Jubilation as Anambra Government Takes Over ‘Akpulu London’ School, Ugbenu

By Obiageli Nwankwo

The Public Private Community Partnership (PPCP) Initiative has recorded another milestone as the Anambra State Government has officially taken over Akpulu London Community Nursery and Primary School in Ugbenu, Awka North Local Government Area.

The handover ceremony, held on the school premises, had the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ifeoma Agbaizu. She commended the Akpulu London community for the vision and commitment displayed in establishing and sustaining the school before handing it over to government.

Prof. Chuma-Udeh described the school as a testament to the unity within the community, noting that such a project can only stand where peace and collective effort exist.

She also emphasized the urgent need for a perimeter fence to prevent further encroachment on school land, revealing that the Ministry currently handles over 250 encroachment cases across the state.

The Commissioner assured the community that with the official handover, the school is now fully eligible to register pupils for Common Entrance and First School Leaving Certificate examinations.
She added that the school would also benefit from government interventions available to public schools.

In her remarks, the Chairman of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Dr. Vera Nwadinobi, represented by the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Loveline Mgbemena, expressed delight at the community’s achievement.
She pledged that qualified teachers would be deployed to the school, stressing that the takeover does not exclude community involvement. According to her, government and community collaboration remains key to raising the school to the desired standard.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of Akpulu London Village General Assembly, Chief Uwabunkeonye, congratulated Governor Chukwuma Soludo on his re-election, describing it as a confirmation that his developmental strides are widely felt. He expressed hope that the governor’s second tenure would usher in greater progress for the state.

Chief Uwabunkeonye thanked the government for approving the community’s handover request, noting that the school was born out of a shared dream to ensure that every child in Akpulu and the wider Ugbenu community has access to quality, equitable, and sustainable education. The school, he added, has also reduced the stress of pupils who previously trekked long distances to the nearest government primary school.

Highlights of the ceremony included the presentation of official documents to the government and the ceremonial cutting of the tape, marking the school’s transition into a fully recognized public institution.

Since Governor Chukwuma Soludo introduced the free education policy in Anambra State, there has been a noticeable increase in communities handing over schools to the government, further strengthening the administration’s commitment to making education accessible to every school-aged child.

-Anambra info Ministry