SOS: A CALL TO REVIVE COMMUNITY SECONDARY SCHOOL, AFIA NSIT UDUA NKO

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SOS: A CALL TO REVIVE COMMUNITY SECONDARY SCHOOL, AFIA NSIT UDUA NKO

Abigail Isaac

In 1979, the people of Afia Nsit Udua Nko, a community of Ndito Ita, Ikot Abasi, and Ikot Okpong, witnessed a moment of great pride. Their dream of having a post-primary institution became reality. That January, the gates of Secondary Technical College swung open, welcoming its first students, with bright white tops and blue pants for uniforms. It was more than just the start of a school; it was the birth of a collective hope.

Afia Nsit Udua Nko, a community rich in educated minds, including the referred village head, Obong Imaikop Orok Ekpenyong of blessed memory, worked tirelessly to see this dream come to fruition. The village rallied behind a vision to contribute to the growth of human resources in the state and beyond. This was their investment in the future.

A Project Built by Sacrifice

The establishment of this school was a message to the determination of the people. It was a self-help project, a rare example of communal effort. Each adult had a role to play, with financial levies and contributions from across the globe. The young ones weren’t left out; they hauled sand and gravel from the local stream to build classrooms and facilities for the engineering departments.

Through these sacrifices, the community built an institution that the government of Cross River State eventually approved to train future engineers and professionals. But today, what remains of this legacy?

A Painful Reality

I recently returned to Afia Nsit Udua Nko, my home, and what I saw left me speechless. The school, now known as Community Secondary School, Afia Nsit Udua Nko, is a shadow of its former self. I could not, in good conscience, imagine sending any of my nieces or nephews to study in its decayed, dilapidated structures.

The once proud technical college, which was transformed into a grammar school, is now abandoned by the government in all but name. Besides sending staff and paying their salaries, the government’s commitment to the institution is non-existent. Imagine a school with 1,200 students yet no proper staff room, no principal’s office, no dignity. The dreams of a generation, now lost amidst crumbling walls.

Hope Amidst Decay

It’s hard to believe, but despite the terrible state of the infrastructure, the school still shines. In 2024, it had the best WASC results in Nsit Ibom LGA. The head girl, Miss Mbetobong, stands out as a beacon of hope, representing the school in the state-sponsored EDUTRIP to Coventry University in the UK. If such excellence can be achieved in these conditions, imagine what could be if the school were properly equipped.

A Call for Help

I write this with a heavy heart, pleading for urgent intervention. This school, Community Secondary School, Afia Nsit Udua Nko, is an oil well of untapped potential. The return on investment in its revival would be immeasurable.

I call on the Akwa Ibom State Government to reinvest in this school. I appeal to the alumni, the people of Afia Nsit Udua Nko and Ikot Abasi Nsit, and stakeholders around the world to come to the aid of this once-great institution. The future of our children, our community, and our nation depends on the quality of education we provide. Let us not let this dream die.

Please, save our school, and by extension, save the future.

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