The wife of the Chairman of Yala Local Government Area, Dr. Augustina Okem, has paid the outstanding third-term school fees of several indigent pupils and students across seven schools in Yala, ensuring that they are not denied the opportunity to sit for their examinations due to financial constraints.
The intervention followed concerns that many children from poor families risked missing their examinations because their parents could not afford to settle school fees before the end of the academic term. During visits to selected schools across the local government area, Dr. Okem assured the affected students that their educational dreams would not be cut short by poverty.
The beneficiary institutions included Igbeku Comprehensive Secondary School, St. Joseph’s Primary School in Okuku, Convent Primary School in Okpoma, St. Paul’s Primary School in Wanokom, St. John’s Primary School in Wanikade, St. Sylvester’s Primary School in Wanihem, and Government Science Secondary School in Wanihem.
Addressing the students, Dr. Okem acknowledged that many of them still owed third-term fees and could have been barred from participating in the forthcoming examinations. She stressed that children should not suffer educational setbacks because of circumstances beyond their control and expressed her determination to ensure that every child had an equal opportunity to continue learning.
According to her, the gesture was not merely about paying school fees but about giving hope to children, preserving their dignity, and ensuring that poverty does not become a barrier to academic success. She encouraged the students to remain focused on their studies and take advantage of the opportunity provided to them.
Dr. Okem explained that the intervention was carried out on the directive of the wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Bishop (Dr.) Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, as an alternative to the annual Children's Day celebration that could not hold this year. The event was reportedly suspended following concerns arising from the abduction of children in Oyo State, making it inappropriate to organize large-scale celebrations while many families elsewhere were facing such tragedies.
She further emphasized the importance of education as a foundation for personal growth and societal development, urging the beneficiaries to remain committed to their studies and strive for excellence.
The gesture attracted emotional reactions from teachers, pupils, and community members, many of whom offered prayers for the governor's wife, the Yala council chairman, and Dr. Okem. Beneficiaries described the intervention as timely and life-changing, noting that it restored hope to many children who were on the verge of missing their examinations.
The initiative adds to growing efforts by public officials and stakeholders in Cross River State to support access to education and reduce the number of out-of-school children, particularly among vulnerable families.
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