In a powerful display of communal spirit, the residents of Ntezi Community in Ishielu Local Council of Ebonyi State have taken education into their own hands. They have collectively funded and provided essential school infrastructure, including whiteboards, for their public schools.
Community Mobilizes Through WhatsApp
The initiative was driven by the Ntezi People’s Forum (N-PeF), an association formed by no fewer than 300 community members. They mobilized funds entirely amongst themselves through a dedicated WhatsApp group to implement the SMART Project—Schools Marker-board Advancement for Reliable Teaching.
Founder of the N-PeF SMART Project, Zack Onwe, emphasized the power of collective action during the handover. "Funding came entirely from community members," he stated, highlighting that the project proves meaningful change does not always start with government.
A Glimpse of Hope and Challenge in Schools
The project team, including Uchenna Ogadu and Akpuro Sunday Prosper, visited several schools to deliver the whiteboards and assess conditions. Their findings painted a contrasting picture.
At Community Primary School, Ulepa Ntezi, the team was met with excitement and gratitude from pupils eager to use the new resources. Similarly, students and staff at Ntezi Community Secondary School (Ozuma-Etta) pledged to make the most of the intervention.
However, the team also encountered deeply worrying scenes. Uchenna Ogadu reported witnessing low attendance, understaffing, and in some cases, completely empty school compounds. "Some of our schools appear abandoned," he explained, calling for urgent government intervention to address these fundamental challenges alongside community efforts.
Royal Endorsement and a Broader Vision
The initiative received a royal blessing from Igwe of Ntezi, Ezeogo Francis Edechukwu (Ezeudo I of Ntezi). He praised the project as the true meaning of community development, where people take responsibility for their own future.
For Zack Onwe, the project is about more than just whiteboards. It is part of a larger vision to foster community ownership across Africa, starting from one community at a time. The N-PeF is calling on others to join this movement, asserting that true development happens when communities are empowered to shape their own destiny.
