2,000 Abia students benefit from Commonwealth education programme

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

Over 2,000 students in Abia State have benefitted from the 2026 Commonwealth outreach programme through training and receiving of learning materials to widen their academic horizon.

The initiative, organised under the auspices of the Commonwealth of Nations, was led by the Africa Regional Coordinator (Literacy) of the Royal Commonwealth Society and Founder/Creative Director of Sweetest Kiddies Empire, Nikita Nkese.

Seven secondary schools across the state benefited from the week-long activities which were part of an outreach programme held to mark Commonwealth Day 2026.

The project was focused on educating students about the history, structure, and core values of the Commonwealth, while highlighting Nigeria’s role within the 56-member international body.

Speaking on the programme’s objective, Nkese said, “It also sought to position young Nigerians to take advantage of global educational platforms and to reinforce the message that their voices are relevant within the Commonwealth community.”

Nkese noted that many of the students had limited prior knowledge of the Commonwealth before the outreach was held.

“Through structured presentations and interactive sessions, however, participants gained a clearer understanding of the organisation’s mission, its benefits to member nations, and opportunities available to young people.”

Nkese equally emphasised the importance of early exposure to international institutions, noting that understanding the Commonwealth’s values fosters leadership awareness, civic responsibility, and cross-cultural competence among young people.

She encouraged the students to participate in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, an international platform that allows young people to showcase their creativity and intellect through essays, poems, drawings, and scripts while connecting with peers across Commonwealth countries.

As part of a major literacy boost, 2,100 copies of the Commonwealth publication, “Our Story, Our World – The Story of 56 Countries,” were distributed to students.

Each participant received a personal copy to encourage sustained reading, broaden global awareness, and promote continued learning outside the classroom.

The schools that benefited from the initiative include Academic Planet School, Bertram American International School, Godly Seed Academy, Great Emerald Stars Academy, Kingdom Heritage Model School and Wellspring Preparatory School.

The proprietress of the Godly Seed Academy, Amaukwu, Mgbaja Ossah, Umuahia, Mrs. Uchechi Okezie, who spoke on behalf of other heads of school, commended the Commonwealth for what she described as a timely and impactful intervention.

She expressed gratitude for the exposure and opportunities made available to their students.