For the past 15 years, Inoyo Toro Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has invested more than N500 million to build capacity in the education sector of Akwa Ibom State.
Mr. Udom Inoyo who announced this Sunday, January 9 during the Lutheran Church of Nigeria National convention/University fundraising at Obot Idim in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the state said the foundation has built the capacity of more than 2,000 public secondary school teachers and mentored over 3,000 students.
Inoyo who was Chairman of the occasion said ”As some of you know, in the last 15 years, we have through the platform of Inoyo Toro Foundation invests N500 million of private funds in the education sector of this state.’’
The retired Vice Chairman of ExxonMobil explained ”This has enabled us to see the gaps inherent in the education sector and I am happy that the government of Governor Udom Emmanuel is aggressively addressing them. But government alone cannot drive the change required in the sector. A multi-stakeholder involvement is what we need, which is why you decided to launch a private university project, about 10 years ago.’’
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On his passion for education, he noted ”You know, each time I reflect on my career journey, I am tempted to think of what could have been, if a young primary school teacher had surrendered to the disappointment that he faced at a critical juncture in his life. My father, Uko Inoyo had in 1956 secured admission, with a full scholarship, to a university in the United States of America.
”All that was required of him was to transport himself to the school, which cost only 200 pounds. He could afford half the amount but was disappointed by those who made promises for the balance. He nevertheless did not allow this disappointment to become a barrier as he invested in private correspondence, taking various examinations that enabled him to be hired in 1959 as an Accountant by the Eastern Region Government.
The foundation Chairman thanked Most Reverend Dr. Christian Ekong, the church President for the invitation, and lauded the church for its vision to establish a university.
According to him, ”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.’’
Commenting on his relationship with the church, Inoyo recollected ”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,’’ he added.
