By Izunna Okafor, Awka
It was an insightful, impactful and inspiring experience over the weekend as officials of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) undertook an educational monitoring trip to the riverine and hard‑to‑reach communities of the state.
The trip, undertaken on Friday, June 20, was both enlightening and affirming, as the team visited several boat‑dependent villages to experiment the mode of transportation and assess the state of education there.
This was corroborated by a video from the trip, showing the ASUBEB officials flying on a high sea, engaging with boat drivers, teachers and pupils in some of the schools only accessible by waterways.
Recall that the Anambra State Government under Prof. Charles Soludo’s leadership has prioritized access to education for all, declaring free basic education and boosting enrollment across the state’s remote areas. Among these efforts, the introduction and revitalization of ASUBEB‑operated boats to convey pupils and teachers to and from schools have become central. These boats, run free of charge for teachers and school children, beginning their daily operation from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Speaking on the trip, the Chairman of ASUBEB, Dr. Vera Nwadinobi, commended the boat drivers for their vital role, describing them as the unsung backbone of the education drive in these communities. She urged them to remain diligent, punctual, and safe, stressing that any form of negligence to duty could negatively impact a child’s right to education.
Dr. Nwadinobi also lauded the efforts of the Soludo Administration in transforming the state’s education sector and his commitment to making education accessible in the state, even as she re-affirmed the ASUBEB’s dedication to ensuring the realization of the Governor’s vision for the sector.
In an interview with this reporter, ASUBEB Board Member 1 and Otuocha Zone Coordinator, Hon. Mrs. Ify Anatune, explained that the monitoring exercise was part of the efforts aimed at addressing the persistent challenge of out‑of‑school children and teacher shortages in educationally underserved areas such as Anambra East, Anambra West, Ogbaru, and Awka North.
She confirmed that the boats had been non‑functional in the past but have now been replaced and maintained under the current administration. While emphasizing the solution-oriented design of this initiative, she further disclosed the plans to increase the fleet to 24 boats.
“We have rallied to provide these vessels in line with Mr. Governor’s vision to ensure no child is left behind, regardless of geography,” she stated.
Mrs. Anatune further revealed that some teachers were specially recruited and id‑carded to serve in these remote settlements by the Soludo Administration.
While attesting that there has been enhanced school enrollment since the initiative and the declaration of free education by the Governor, she also noted that infrastructure and boat access remain crucial for sustaining and scaling this success, further expressing hope for acquisition of more new boats within the year to further ease the issue of water transportation for school children and teachers within the area.
“Remember that some teachers were specially recruited for those areas. Parts of the reasons why people run away from going to teach in those areas include transportation, river water transportation. But today, those challenges are meeting their solution, because Solution is here,” she explained.
Mrs. Anatune further hinted that the boats and the drivers are regularly maintained by the ASUBEB.
“And ASUBEB has continued to ensure training and retraining of the boat drivers, especially on issues of safety on board and speed limits and courtesy to their clients. So, they’re always in one form of training or the other, and it’s been all working well.
“So, I make bold to say that our schools are doing extremely well over there, as the Solution Government continues to ensure that no child is left behind educationally in Anambra today,” she concluded.
Also present on the excursion were ASUBEB’s Board Secretary, Hon. Ebere Mgbemena, other senior officials, and boat drivers, among others, who also collectively assessed the boats’ seaworthiness, among other checks conducted.
This reporter, Izunna Okafor, gathered that no ASUBEB Management Leadership or Team had ever undertaken this kind of monitoring trip to these riverine areas in the past.
Watch the video below:
