NECO registration: “Why I am involved.” Prof EmekaDuruigbo.

UbaUmuaka born erudite professor of law and the Executive Director, the Emeka and Cherish Duruigbo Foundation, Inc, Professor EmekaDuruigbo has given more insight on why he and his wife under the auspices of their NGO, Emeka and Cherish Duruigbo Foundation volunteered and paid for the registration costs for all the students at High School Umuaka who will sit for NECO later in the year.

Professor Duruigbo who expressed deep happiness and satisfaction when the American correspondents of Umuaka Times called on him last week, first talked about the backgrounds of the Duruigbo foundation. “The Emeka and Cherish Duruigbo Foundation, Inc. is a humanitarian foundation incorporated in the State of Texas to, among other things, pursue and accomplish non-profit, religious, charitable and educational objectives both within and outside the United States.”

Talking of what inspired him and his wife to remember the students of High School Umuaka under the Tinubu government puts it thus: “I was inspired to help sponsor the NECO registration of the inaugural Secondary School Certificate Examination class at High School Umuaka for a variety of reasons. First, I wanted to help stabilize the student population at the school. For years, HSU has been hemorrhaging students because the school was not a recognized center for WAEC and NECO examinations at the SSCE level. Because of that, students left HSU for other schools to prepare them and provide an opportunity to take the exams.”

The Roberson King Professor of Law at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University continued: “Thankfully, through the assistance of some Uba people working with the school administration, HSU received recognition as a center for both WAEC and NECO in 2024 and 2025 respectively. So, this is the first set taking the exams at the school. The WAEC exam is already underway so I decided to sponsor the NECO registration for all the students in the inaugural class.”

Considering the economic hardship parents go through in Nigeria today, “I wanted to make sure that no student missed the opportunity to sit for the exam for financial reasons. NECO is a good back up in case something goes wrong with WAEC, such as exam seizure or a student failing to record a successful result in any needed subject. Besides I wanted to lighten the load on the parents and guardians of these students. Some parents have been unable to come up with the registration fee for about a quarter of the students. Even when parents can afford the registration fees, relieving them of this responsibility releases more money for them to do other things including purchasing books or taking care of their families.”

Another reason Professor Duruigbodisclosed for embarking on the charity project at HSU was attributable to his wife: “My wife is always eager to contribute to community development in Umuaka. She provided a strong motivation to embark on this venture. Indeed, this NECO sponsorship is undertaken under the auspices of our outfit, the Emeka and Cherish Duruigbo Foundation Inc., Texas, U.S.A.”

In his conclusion, Duruigbo on behalf of his wife thanked the staff and students of HSU and the entire UbaUmuaka community for all the roles they have played so far. He further considered the donation as a little way he and his wife could help develop the students at home.

“This is our own little way of giving back to the community that has given so much to us. With the continued help of the Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ, we will remain responsive to the needs of our people and our institutions.”

There is also an expectation the professor expects from UbaUmuaka community:

“My expectation is that by next year, we will have many well-meaning Uba sons and daughters and well-wishers stepping in to adopt similar gestures. I want HSU to be known as a school of free WAEC and NECO registrations. Such moves and other incentives will increase the popularity and population of the school while enhancing and upgrading the educational experience of the students. The great Uba community is so blessed with many people with bigger financial muscles and greater doses of compassion than us that I am confident this is a done deal already.”