The House of Representatives’ Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. In order to protect communities, Benjamin Kalu has advocated for the removal of obstacles brought about by disparities in access.
He stated this at the 5th Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture organised by Start-Rite Schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in collaboration with the Victor & Amaka Ndoma-Egba Foundation (VANEF), which held over the weekend with the theme, “Beyond Boundaries – Building Resilient Communities For Tomorrow”.
The memorial lecture aimed to remember and honour the memory and legacy of the late Founder of Start-Rite Schools, Mrs. Amaka Lauretta Ndoma-Egba.
Kalu, who presided the occasion and represented by Dr. Clifford Ogbede, an executive director of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
In his opening remarks, chairman of the occasion, Kalu, through Dr. Ogbede, said “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.
“She thought that every child should have the chance to rise above the constraints of their surroundings and that excellence should not be limited by circumstances.”
Noting that “Resilience is not accidental, it is built through values, vision, and intentional investment in people,” the deputy speaker urged leaders, educators, legislators, and parents to work toward developing inclusive, creative, and future-ready systems and communities.
“The idea of going beyond boundaries is a call to stretch our imagination about what education, leadership, and community development should be,” he says. It urges us to dismantle the invisible walls created by access gaps and inequality.
“Mrs. Ndoma-Egba’s work serves as a reminder that when we dare to rethink what is possible and then take audacious action to make it true, revolutionary development occurs. Similarly, establishing resilient communities involves more than infrastructure or policy frameworks. It demands character, empathy, togetherness and a shared commitment to the common good. In a world of rapid technological, economic and social shifts, resilience is the currency of survival. Understanding this, the late Amaka Ndoma-Egba established a school that not only imparts knowledge but also develops individuals capable of navigating uncertainty and leading meaningful lives. That is the kind of community that assures future is stronger than today.”
The keynote speaker, former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, stressed the significance of giving back to society.
The former Cross River helmsman once said, “Most societies in the world have been built not necessarily by the government.” However, by those private individuals who have succeeded and are contributing. And Amaka Ndoma-Egba has done just that.
“We will be a great nation if every single member of Nigeria’s elite class can give back something to those outside our immediate family,” he declared.
“There are three stages in life,” Duke said, urging the Start-Rite students to be focused and maximize their time. The first stage is the first 25 years. That is the stage of learning. You take in as much information and knowledge as you can. The next 25 earn as much as you can. That brings you to fifty years of age. And after 50 years, you offer more than you anticipate. That is giving back.”
“For the records, the Amaka Ndoma-Egba Memorial Lecture is more than a commemoration,” said Ndoma-Egba, the Advisory Board Chairman and Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) Governing Council. It serves as a center for ideas, a marketplace for information, and a venue where the goals of the next generation are met with the experience of today’s leaders. With its motto, “Securing the Future,” Start-Rite Schools gives young minds the chance to interact with visionaries, pick the brains of great leaders, and develop the attitude necessary to lead with impact, integrity, and innovation.
Mr. Femi Akinlade, the principal of Start-Rite Schools, claimed that five years after the founder’s passing, the school has continued to grow stronger under the direction of the Board, which is managed by her husband, Senator Ndoma-Egba, while inviting attendees to the event.
“After her untimely passing on 19th of November, 2020, the formation of an Advisory Board, Chaired by her husband, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, OFR, SAN, CON, LLD brought seasoned guidance and strategic direction, giving us stability as we charted the next chapter without our founder. Tonight, we see that dream alive, lively, and getting stronger every day; it is indeed a legacy that keeps expanding, stretching into new horizons,” Akinlade stated.
“In just five years, we have recorded a 77% increase in students,” he continued. The range of talent we currently foster is evidence of the welcoming ethos our founder promoted, and our classrooms are fuller and our hallways are alive with new ideas.
“We achieved a 100% pass at distinction and credit levels in the West Africa Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) this year, as we did previous year. What makes this result an improvement on last year is not the 100% credit pass, as that was recorded last year too, but the almost 90% distinctions recorded across all subjects.”
In his statement, Mr. Joseph Oru, the chairman of VANEF, stated that the Foundation was founded to uphold the principles that the late Amaka championed.
Oru states, “Mrs. Amaka Lauretta Ndoma-Egba finished her time here five years ago and left a mark that continues to speak.” Many children were given chances they might not have thought of because to her work in education and community assistance. Start-Rite Schools is one of those manifestations, but so were the humanitarian 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. The Victor and Amaka Ndoma-Egba Foundation (VANEF) was established as a result of that dedication.
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, Senators Nicholas Ugbane, Musa Adede, Mathew Mbu, Hon. Victor Abang, members of the FUOYE Governing Council, including Professor Joshua Ogunwole, the VC-designate, and Professor Abayomi Fasina, the departing VC.
The memorial lecture included a photography and art display that highlighted the kids’ artistic abilities, talent, and inventiveness.
