Obio/Akpor Chairman Announces ₦170m Back-to-School Support for 850 Families
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Dunebari Government
OBIO/AKPOR, RIVERS STATE — The Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon. Dr. Gift Worlu, has announced a ₦170 million Back-to-School Programme aimed at supporting 850 families in the local government area as schools prepare to resume for a new academic session.
Under the programme, each selected family is expected to receive ₦200,000 to assist with the cost of sending their children and wards back to school.
Worlu disclosed the initiative while outlining his administration’s commitment to education, social welfare and programmes designed to ease the economic pressure on residents of the local government.
The intervention is expected to provide immediate financial relief to beneficiary families, many of whom face increasing expenses associated with school fees, uniforms, textbooks, writing materials, transportation and other educational requirements.
With 850 families targeted, the programme represents a significant investment in household welfare and education, while also demonstrating the local government’s recognition of education as an important foundation for human capital development.
The initiative has been welcomed as a timely intervention capable of helping parents meet some of the financial demands of the new academic session.
For families with multiple school-age children, the ₦200,000 support could help offset a substantial portion of their back-to-school expenses and enable parents to prioritise their children's education despite prevailing economic challenges.
Beyond its immediate educational value, the programme could also have a positive economic effect on beneficiary households. By reducing the amount families have to spend directly on school-related expenses, the assistance could leave parents with additional resources to meet other basic household needs.
Boost to Education
The Back-to-School Programme adds to the education-focused initiatives associated with Worlu’s administration in Obio/Akpor.
The council has previously highlighted interventions in the education sector, including support for students and infrastructure development. In January 2026, the local government reported the handover of a renovated primary school in Choba, reflecting its stated interest in improving the learning environment for children within the area.
Worlu has also engaged with student representatives and emphasised the importance of supporting young people in their educational pursuits.
The latest initiative therefore represents a combination of direct household assistance and the broader objective of encouraging school attendance and educational development.
Education advocates have consistently stressed that financial difficulties remain one of the challenges affecting children's ability to remain in school, particularly in low-income households. Programmes that provide targeted support to families can therefore complement government investments in schools and educational infrastructure.
Economic Facelift for Families
The ₦170 million intervention is also being viewed as a household economic support programme because of its potential to reduce financial pressure on families.
At a time when the cost of basic goods and services continues to place pressure on household budgets, assistance specifically directed at education can prevent parents from having to choose between schooling and other essential family needs.
A beneficiary family, upon receiving the proposed support, would be able to redirect part of its income previously earmarked for school expenses towards food, healthcare, transportation or other household requirements.
The initiative is consequently not only about getting children back into classrooms but also about strengthening the economic resilience of participating families.
Obio/Akpor Local Government Area is one of the major local government areas in Rivers State and forms an important part of the Port Harcourt metropolitan area. The area hosts a large and growing population, including families, businesses, educational institutions and other economic activities.
The local government has, under Worlu’s administration, placed emphasis on programmes covering education, youth development, infrastructure and social welfare.
The Back-to-School Programme comes against this background and is positioned as an intervention aimed at ensuring that financial difficulties do not prevent children from returning to school.
The initiative is expected to generate positive reactions among parents and community members, particularly families selected to benefit from the programme.
Residents have also called for continued investment in public schools, teacher development, educational materials and student support so that financial assistance to families is complemented by improvements in the quality of education.
As the programme gets underway, the ₦170 million intervention is expected to provide relief to 850 families while reinforcing the importance of education as a pathway to long-term community development and economic advancement.
The programme, if effectively implemented, could serve as a significant boost to education in Obio/Akpor and provide a welcome economic facelift for families preparing their children for another academic year.
