PLANTING TOMORROW TODAY: MRS. HELEN AKIOTU EKPESON CHAMPIONS EDUCATIONAL HOPE, EMPOWERS ETSAKO EAST CHILDREN, AND LIGHTS THE PATH TO A BRIGHTER, MORE INCLUSIVE FUTURE FOR EVERY CLASSROOM
OFFICIAL BROADCAST
Etsako East, Edo State – On Monday, 8th June 2026, the heartbeat of Etsako East pulsed with purpose, compassion, and a renewed sense of possibility.
In a gesture that blended motherly care with visionary leadership, Mrs. Helen Akiotu Ekpeson, wife of the Acting Executive Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council, Rt. Hon. Sunny Ekpetika Ekpeson, marked the 2026 Children’s Day celebration with a landmark outreach across Okpella.
Through the Women Development Program Initiative, she turned celebration into impact — placing books, pens, and hope directly into the hands of the next generation.
As the revered Chairperson of the Wives Association of Local Government of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, WALGON, Mrs. Helen has always believed that education is not a privilege, but a right.
Her philosophy is simple: when a child has the right tools, confidence grows, teachers teach better, and communities rise together.
Guided by that belief, her team moved swiftly to identify and support 8 outstanding schools within Okpella — a balanced mix of 4 public and 4 private institutions.
This deliberate selection was designed to touch both government-owned and privately-run classrooms, ensuring that no child feels left behind because of where they learn.
The mission behind this outreach goes beyond supplies. It is about dignity. It is about telling every parent, “You are not alone in this responsibility.” It is about telling every teacher, “Your work matters, and we see you.”
By providing essential learning materials, Mrs. Helen is helping families redirect limited resources to other pressing needs, while giving students the chance to walk into class prepared, focused, and proud.
Leading the distribution on behalf of Mrs. Helen was Alhaji Mr. Haruna Hamisu, Head of Department of Social Services at the Council Secretariat. He did more than supervise logistics — he listened, encouraged, and connected.
Alhaji Mr. Hamisu acknowledged the quiet struggles parents face in today’s economy. He explained that this intervention was born from a deep understanding of those realities, and that it represents the first phase of a larger, well-structured plan.
Okpella alone is home to over 75 schools, with 31 fully registered. From that number, 4 public and 4 private schools were chosen for this round. But the message was clear: this is not the end, it is the beginning. More schools will be reached, one phase at a time, until the gesture touches every child in Etsako East.
The celebration was intentionally held after the Children’s Day date of 27th May due to its clash with the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.
Yet, as Alhaji Mr. Hamisu noted, the delay only deepened the meaning. It showed that while holidays come and go, the commitment to children remains constant. True leadership does not chase dates; it chases impact.
The Support Delivered to Schools:
- 100 dozen 20-leaf exercise books — for daily classwork and practice
- 60 dozen 40-leaf exercise books — for tests, assignments, and projects
- 125 dozen 60-leaf exercise books — for long-term subjects and note-taking
- 1,200 pencils — to keep small hands writing and creating
- 1,000 biros — to power expression and examination success
- 300 whiteboard markers — to equip teachers with tools for engaging lessons
- 50 instructional classroom charts — to make learning visual, interactive, and memorable
Schools Honored and Their Leaders Present:
- Ikpomaza Grammar School – Mrs. Ikioda I. Dora, Principal
- Imiekuri/Ekuri Secondary Commercial School – Mrs. Zakaria M. Hauwa, Principal
- Afokpella Secondary School – Comr. Kerobo J. O, Principal
- Iddo Community Grammar School
- Starlight Academy
- United Primary School
- Hebrew Primary School
- Elite Primary School – Comr. Kadiri Godfrey represented the private school bloc
The Council’s CIE was also represented by Mr. Sunday Amedu, who witnessed the exercise and commended its transparency.
Voices of Gratitude, Words of Hope
In an emotional vote of thanks, Comr. Kerobo J. O spoke on behalf of all the principals. He described the intervention as timely, thoughtful, and rare.
He praised the Acting Executive Chairman, Rt. Hon. Sunny Ekpetika Ekpeson, for creating an environment where such initiatives can thrive. Then he turned to Mrs. Helen and crowned her with a new name that captured the mood of the room:
“Olunamie of Etsako East” — meaning “She who gives generously without hesitation.” According to Comr. Kerobo, it has been many years since students received such comprehensive and heartfelt support.
Alhaji Mr. Hamisu, in his closing remarks, addressed schools that were not part of this phase. He urged them to remain hopeful and patient.
Mrs. Helen, he said, is already working with stakeholders to design the next wave of support. “This hand of generosity will reach every school in Etsako East. We are building a system where every child counts, and every classroom matters,” he affirmed.
The delegation that stood with Alhaji Mr. Haruna Hamisu included Mrs. Sadat Idris, Secretary of the Women Development Program Initiative; AbdulRahman Ozekomhe, Coordinator of both the Ekpeson Solidarity Movement and the City Boys Movement, Etsako East; Agukor Magdalene, PA to the Chairperson; and Alegieumo Fortune.
✅This is servant leadership in motion — leadership that notices the smallest need and responds with the biggest heart.
✅It is leadership that understands a single exercise book can change a child’s trajectory.
✅It is leadership that knows when you equip a child today, you secure a community tomorrow.
Etsako East is not just distributing materials. We are planting confidence, nurturing ambition, and building a culture where learning is celebrated.
From Agenebode to Okpella, the message is the same: every child deserves to dream, and every dream deserves the tools to come true.
Issued by:
Comr. Amb. Abass Egbezemogie Yunusah
Chief Press Secretary
Etsako East Local Government Council, Agenebode
