Ihe, Enugu: Celebrating an education initiative
Peter Eneonwo is a community development activist
Christmas 2021 in Southeast
Ihe Development Initiative (IDI) traditionally holds an annual convention every 29 December to put smiles on the faces of students and graduates.
The 2021 Convention was held at the Central School, Ihe, in Awgu LGA of Enugu State.
Those who smiled home from the event included nine indigenes who each received N300,000 (three hundred thousand naira) to pursue master’s programme in different universities in Nigeria.
Furthermore, cash prizes were awarded to students and pupils of Community Secondary School, Ihe and the four public primary schools.
Additionally, a set of percussion instruments (school band) was donated to the Holy Child Schools, also in the community.
IDI honoured five persons adjudged to be champions of human empowerment. These were representatives of Enugu West as well as Aninri/Awgu/Oji River constituencies in the National Assembly, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and Rep. Toby Okechukwu. The recipients were accompanied to the event by Chief Dennis Oguerinwa Amadi who represents Udi/Eziagu constituency also in the National Assembly.
Back home, three sons of the soil – Air Cdre John Ozoemena (Ret.), Chief Godwin Okolo, and Chief Ugochukwu Udeh, also received similar IDI Human Empowerment Ambassador Awards.
Another highlight of the event was a lecture on secirity delivered by an Ihe Diasporan, Mr. Isaac Ike. It was moderated by cerebral Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Emeka Udeonu.
About IDI Ihe
IDI is almost an age group organisation of Ihe people who were born in the seventies. Today, its membership cuts across servicemen, entrepreneurs, academics and bureacrats.
The organisatio has thus far awarded 34 master’s degree scholarships and given cash prizes to pupils and students of the public schools in the community every year.
The range of IDI philanthropyis is quite elastic. At one point, it partially funded a Chinese language programme to enable an indigene pursuing a bachelor degree in the Chinese language in China. IDI has also donated sets of percussion instruments to five primary schools, in addition to the annual awards of cash prizes to secondary and primary school students and pupils.
The prizes and scholarships are sponsored by wealthy members of the Community either in their names or in remembrance of their loved ones.
IDI has also announced that it is funding an ongoing documentation of the history of the Community.
The 2021 Convention was was well attended by Ihe people as well as guests from other communities. Guests were warmly welcomed by Igwe Martin Ibeziakor, the traditional ruler of Enuguoke Ihe Autonomous Community.
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