The Former Executive Vice Chairman, ExxonMobil , Nigeria, Mr Udom Inoyo has revealed that the Inoyo Toro Foundation has in the past 15 years invested over N500 million Naira of private funds in the education sector of Akwa Ibom state. He made the revelation while speaking at the recent Lutheran Church of Nigeria National Convention/University Fund -Raising at the Lutheran Church of Nigeria Headquarters Obot Idim, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.
Inoyo who is the Advisor, Inoyo Toro Foundation said that the Foundation has been able to built the capacity of over two thousand secondary school teachers and mentoring over three thousand students since its inception.
He explained that the measure was necessitated by the passion to bridge the skill gaps inherent in the education sector, and to support Governor Udom Emmanuel’s aggressive effort to reposition education in the State.
Mr Inoyo further posited that government alone cannot drive the needed change required in the education sector and therefore called for a multi-stakeholder involvement in confronting the challenges in the sector.
He commended the vision of the Lutheran Church in their decision to commence the process of starting a private university project about 10 years ago pointing out that,
“This is commendable, but we must make it a reality. Available data as of 2019 indicates that we have seventy-nine approved private universities out of a total of 169 licensed universities in Nigeria. Thirty-nine of these are church-owned or affiliated. Most known churches the age of Lutheran Church of Nigeria had since commenced their universities. Happily, I am informed plans are underway for National Universities Commission (NUC) to be here on inspection by the middle of next year. But we need money to get ready. Please recommit to getting this project going.”
Going down memory lane, Mr Inoyo reflected on how the Lutheran High school, Obot Idim was built some 72 years ago through the devotion of its forebears, the majority of whom had nothing but sacrificed to establish a school that has produced top military generals, academics, and business gurus.
He stressed on the importance of supporting the University’s fundraising, charging the people to commit money from legitimate sources that will attract blessings to them.
Inoyo, who chaired the occasion described the event as a homecoming, pointing out that,
“At birth, my baptism was at the Lutheran church, Uwani, Enugu. That means my parents were members of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria.My late father, Elder Uko Inoyo was for over a decade the President of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Calabar. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria.As a teenager, resident in Calabar, my fond memories of the mainland part of the old Cross River state were in this location. I used to accompany my father for meetings here, and I also holidayed with the families of Reverend Nelson Unwene and the late Reverend Edet Udofia Udo (EUU) Inyang of the Christian Radio Studio. In every sense, this was a European quarter; serene, controlled, and everyone seemed happy. So, in every sense, this is a homecoming for me.”
He Commended the National President of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria, Most Reverend Christian Ekong for his prayers and the opportunity given him to chair the occasion.
Inoyo expressed optimism that when the University is up and running, the children of parishioners, who are sowing seeds will not be denied access based on high school fees, as is the case in some schools, advising that the authorities should fashion out creative ways of accommodating them
