Rt., the House of Representatives’ deputy speaker. The Hon. Benjamin Kalu has advocated for the removal of obstacles brought about by inequality and access gaps in order to protect communities.
He made this statement over the weekend at the 5th Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture, which was organized by Start-Rite Schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in partnership with the Victor & Amaka Ndoma-Egba Foundation (VANEF). The theme of the event was “Beyond Boundaries – Building Resilient Communities For Tomorrow.”
The purpose of the memorial lecture was to honor and commemorate the memories of Mrs. Amaka Lauretta Ndoma-Egba, the late founder of Start-Rite Schools.
Dr. Clifford Ogbede, an executive director of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), represented Kalu, who presided over the gathering.
“The late Mrs. Amaka Ndoma-Egba was more than the Founder of Start-Rite Schools, she was someone who embodied a rare blend of discipline, compassion, and unwavering belief in the transformative power of education,” stated Kalu, the event chairman, through Dr. Ogbede, in his introductory remarks.
“She thought that every child should have the chance to grow beyond the constraints of their surroundings and that excellence should not be limited by circumstances.”
The deputy speaker emphasized that “resilience is not accidental, it is built through values, vision, and intentional investment in people” and urged leaders, educators, legislators, and parents to work toward developing inclusive, creative, and future-ready systems and communities.
“Going beyond boundaries is a call to stretch our imagination about what education, leadership, and community development should be,” he says. It exhorts us to demolish the imperceptible barriers that inequality and access disparities have erected.
The work of Mrs. Ndoma-Egba serves as a reminder that revolutionary progress occurs when we have the courage to rethink what is feasible and then take decisive action to make it a reality. Similarly, infrastructure and regulatory frameworks alone are not enough to create resilient communities. It necessitates morality, compassion, solidarity, and a common dedication to the common good. Resilience is essential for surviving in a society where social, technological, and economic changes happen quickly. Understanding this, the late Amaka Ndoma-Egba established a school that not only imparts knowledge but also develops people capable of navigating uncertainty and leading purposeful lives. A community like that guarantees that future will be better than today.
The significance of giving back to society was emphasized by the keynote speaker, Mr. Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River State.
“Most societies in the world have been built not necessarily by the government,” said the former head of Cross River. But by those private individuals who have succeeded and are contributing. Amaka Ndoma-Egba has accomplished this.
He declared, “We will be a great nation if every single one of us in Nigeria’s elite class can give back something to those outside our immediate family.”
“There are three stages in life,” Duke remarked, urging the Start-Rite kids to stay focused and use their time. The first 25 years are considered the first stage. The learning step is that. You acquire as much knowledge and information as you can. Make as much money as you can for the next 25. You reach 50 years old with that. Additionally, you give more than you anticipate after 50 years. It’s giving back.
“For the records, the Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture is more than a commemoration,” said Advisory Board Chairman Ndoma-Egba, who also happens to be the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the Governing Council of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). It serves as a marketplace for knowledge, a center for ideas, and a platform where the goals of the next generation are met with the expertise of today’s leaders. With its motto, “Securing the Future,” Start-Rite Schools gives young people the chance to interact with visionaries, pick the brains of great leaders, and develop the attitude necessary to lead with impact, integrity, and inventiveness.
Mr. Femi Akinlade, the principal of Start-Rite Schools, claimed that five years after the founder’s death, the school has continued to grow stronger under the direction of the Board, which is managed by her husband, Senator Ndoma-Egba, as he welcomed attendees to the event.
“After her tragic death on November 19, 2020, an Advisory Board chaired by her husband, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, OFR, SAN, CON, LLD, gave seasoned counsel and strategic direction, offering us stability as we plotted the next chapter without our founder. Akinlade said, “Tonight, we see that dream alive, vibrant, and growing stronger every day; it’s a legacy that keeps blossoming, stretching into new horizons.”
He continued, saying, “We have seen a 77% increase in students in just five years.” The range of talent we currently foster is proof of the welcoming mentality our founder promoted, and our classrooms are fuller and our hallways are alive with new ideas.
Similar to the previous year, we achieved a 100% pass rate in the West Africa Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) at both the distinction and credit levels. The nearly 90% distinctions across all disciplines are what make this score better than last year’s, not the 100% credit pass, which was also recorded last year.
The Foundation was founded to uphold the principles that the late Amaka stood for, according to Mr. Joseph Oru, Chairman of VANEF.
“Mrs. Amaka Lauretta Ndoma-Egba finished her time here five years ago and left a mark that continues to speak,” says Oru. Many kids were given options they might not have thought about because to her work in education and community assistance. Start-Rite Schools is one example of that, but so were the social projects she supported and the scholarships she discreetly funded.
“The Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, OFR, CON, LL.D., SAN pledged to establish a framework that guarantees this influence does not diminish over time in order to uphold the principles she stood for. This dedication led to the creation of the Victor and Amaka Ndoma-Egba Foundation (VANEF).
Former Edo State Governor Senator Oserheimen Osunbor, former Justice Minister Chief Bayo Ojo and his wife Justice Folashade Ojo of the Court of Appeal, Cardinal John Onayekan, Bishop Anselm Umoren, former Justice Minister Chief Kanu Agabi, Senator Nicholas Ugbane, Senator Musa Adede, Senator Mathew Mbu, Hon. Professor Abayomi Fasina, the departing VC, and Professor Joshua Ogunwole, the VC-designate, are among the FUOYE Governing Council members, including Victor Abang.
The kids’ inventiveness, aptitude, and artistic abilities were displayed in an arts and photography exhibition during the memorial lecture.
