By Rita Enemuru Reporting
IN the quiet community of Etinan in Akwa Ibom State, a story of transformation is unfolding; one that is touching not only the lives of children but also their teachers, families, and even young people from abroad. At the centre of it all is the Etinan Children’s Education Foundation (ECEF), a non-profit organisation driven by compassion and a deep belief in the power of education.
Dr. Isongesit Ibokette
Since its establishment, the Foundation has gone beyond providing the basics of uniforms, food, and medical care. It has created an environment where children are nurtured to grow in knowledge and confidence, where teachers discover new ways to engage their pupils, and where foreign students find life-changing lessons in service and cultural exchange. What began as a modest effort has blossomed into a force of hope, bridging communities and shaping futures.
A cross section of teachers and others
The Founder’s Voice
For Dr. Isongesit Ibokette, the founder and president of the Etinan Children’s Education Foundation, the work is deeply personal. He believes that no child should be held back because of poverty or lack of opportunity. The Foundation’s programmes are designed not only to clothe and feed the children but also to provide them with medical care, proper learning facilities, and enrichment opportunities that sharpen their skills and ignite their creativity.
The expatriates coaching the pupils
In a chat with our reporter, Rita Enemuru at Etinan Model Primary School, Etinan Local Government Area on Friday, Dr Ibokette described his motivation as being driven by fulfilment rather than sacrifice. “People say the work I am doing is selfless, but I tell them it is selfish because of the deep satisfaction I get from seeing these children thrive,” he said with a smile.
Teachers Finding New Strength
The teachers in Etinan have also witnessed first-hand the changes the Foundation has brought. For them, the difference is not only in the children’s learning but in their own professional growth.
Pupils and teachers
One teacher, Uduak Polinus Akpan, explained that since the Foundation arrived, the children’s performance has improved greatly, and the teachers themselves have become more skilled and confident. She highlighted how the Foundation introduced a child-centred approach in teaching, encouraging creativity and helping pupils pronounce words more clearly and read better.
Speaking on the impact of the foundation in the lives of the children, she said: “I’m a teacher, a teacher in this school, I’m also a teacher in the foundation. I’ve been here for about three years now. I was already a teacher before, I was appointed as a teacher in the foundation.
Pupils enjoying the class
“We thank God everyday for bringing Professor Ibokette to this school and choosing it to be the place to establish his foundation. And since he came here and started the foundation, the children here are improving and the improvement extends to the teachers.
“He has made us to know that teaching is all about the child-centered, that is everything that we are going to do here, we center on the children.
“So, the foundation has changed the way the children are learning, in learning some words, some sound in alphabets and how to pronounce words very well. It has made them to be creative, drawing, coloring and everything.
The teachers and students
“Then, with the teacher, he has made us to the standards, I can’t even tell, because I believe we are incomparable with other teachers in other schools, because we learn a lot and we know a lot. So, we know how to start with a child, if a child cannot read, we know what to do for that child to be able to read very well. And we know, now we can say this child is good in reading, this child is good in craft work, this child is good in this, all that.
“If I want to rate the children’s reception of the foreign students, I would say they relate with them. Because these foreign students have been coming here several times, so they now understand how they speak. The children have mastered their tongue, so they know it very well. Even if they come in today, they will speak and the children will understand.”
Another teacher, Ofommbuk Ekong, reflected that she had never seen such a programme in any of the schools where she had previously taught. She said the Foundation has enriched the children academically, made them more creative, and most importantly, helped them gain confidence through their interaction with foreign students.
One of the teachers
She said: “I came here on transfer in 2021, and I have never seen this kind of gesture. The Foundation has enriched the children academically and in creativity. Their level of confidence grows with every interaction with the foreigners. I will appeal to the government to come here, see what is happening, and imitate it in other schools.
“In the previous school that I was, there was nothing like this. I came in to see this programme and I have seen in the programme and foundation has enriched the children academically and in creativity. I have never seen this kind of gesture so I’m grateful for what he is doing here. One of the interesting impact I have seen in the children is their level of interaction with the foreigners. I have seen them grow with confidence the more they are being taught and the more they interact with the foreigners.
“I will appeal to the government to be coming here to see how the children are doing do that they can imitate it in other government owned schools in the community and state at large.”
The expatriates teachers and pupils
Foreign Students Finding New Horizons
Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of the Foundation is how it connects children in Etinan to the world. Each year, students from Newton North High School in the United States travel to Nigeria to teach, learn, and share experiences with the scholars.
Sam Cohen, a 17-year-old participant, and a 12th grader explained that he applied for the programme because of his love for children and his excitement about exploring a new culture. He said the eagerness of the children to learn made every teaching moment joyful.
He said: “I have always been excited about being around kids, so when the opportunity came, I grabbed it. The children here are so eager to learn, and that excites me every time I teach them.”
For Sky Larson, aged 16, the programme was about broadening her worldview. She described how the children’s openness to learning inspired her, and how she had gained as much as she gave.
She said: “I took this opportunity because I wanted to broaden my worldview. What excites me most is how open the children are to learning. In fact, they have taught me so much in just three weeks.”
A cross section of teachers and others
Another participant, Hannah Spector, admitted that she was encouraged to apply after her best friend had taken part the previous year. She said that everything her friend told her about the programme turned out to be true.
She said: “My best friend was part of the last batch and told me about her incredible experience. She didn’t lie. Being here has been nothing short of amazing.”
A Beacon of Hope
From the voice of its founder to the experiences of teachers and foreign volunteers, the Etinan Children’s Education Foundation has grown into more than a support programme, it has become a beacon of hope. For the children, it means access to education, health, and dignity. For the teachers, it means empowerment and professional growth. For the foreign students, it is an eye-opening cultural exchange that shapes their worldview.
What started with a few uniforms and school supplies has blossomed into a bridge between communities, uniting Etinan with the world and proving that when education is nurtured, it changes everything.
What's your reaction?
