AUTHOR: OWOBU MAUREEN

In a bid to revive the spirit of learning and empower the next generation, the National Association of Okpella Students (NAOS) has launched the Okpella Education Awareness Tour 2025, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at impacting over 2,000 young people across Okpella communities in Estako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The program, fully sponsored by Hon. Dekeri Sunday Anamero (popularly known as DANCO), who represents Estako Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, was unveiled on Wednesday during a press briefing in Benin City.

According to the convener, Comrade Covenant Samuel, the four-day tour will run from July 1st to July 4th, 2025, with town hall sessions scheduled in Afokpella/Ogriga, Awuyemi, Iddo, and Ogute/Imiekuri.

“This is more than just an outreach—it is a movement to reignite the light of education in every household across Okpella,” Comrade Samuel stated. “With the theme ‘Education for All: Empowering Every Child, Inspiring Every Gender’, the goal is to spread a message of hope, education, and empowerment to every child and young person in our communities.”

He further appreciated Hon. Anamero’s consistent support for youth-focused development, describing the lawmaker’s intervention as timely and transformative for rural communities.

“The students and youths thank you, our sponsor, for believing in this vision and helping us write a new chapter in our collective history,” he added.

NAOS noted that the initiative is the first of its kind in the region and expressed hope that it would create lasting impact and inspire more partnerships toward educational advancement in Okpella.

The Tour is to take place in four communities which include

Afokpella, Awuyemi, Iddo and Ogute, 10:00 AM daily.

The Okpella Education Awareness Tour is expected to serve as a catalyst for positive change, bridging the education gap and strengthening youth engagement in the community.