17/06/2026
Reports emerging from Afikpo this morning indicate that WAEC has deregistered Ohabuike Secondary School, Ndibe-Afikpo, due to the deplorable condition of the school and its inability to provide functional laboratory facilities required for learning and examinations.
The image below shows the current state of the school—a mere carcass of what an educational institution should be.
A similar situation confronts Community Secondary School, Nkalagu, in Ishielu Local Government Area.
If other communities take an honest look and reveal their realities, you will discover that many public secondary schools across Ebonyi State are neither functional, habitable, nor WAEC-approved. Yet, these schools remain the only option available for many families seeking secondary education for their children and preparing them for WAEC examinations and tertiary education.
This neglect and the collapse of the public education system have contributed significantly to the growing number of out-of-school children and teenagers in Ebonyi State. Many are forced into hawking of petty goods on the streets, while others fall into child marriage, early parenthood, and unhealthy relationships resulting from a lack of education and guidance. Poor access to quality education also exposes many young people to preventable health and social challenges.
Sadly, this is happening in a state where local government chairmen and the governor can spend billions of naira on political rallies, celebrations, and public events. Instead of the governor to spend public funds in rebuilding moribund service system, he would use the money to hire artistes to come and sing for you people at Abakaliki Township stadium.
Predictably, some government aides and supporters like the SA on documentation will come here to label me “frustrated” simply because I am highlighting their failures. What they fail to understand is that discussions about Ebonyi’s resources and on how those resources can be used to improve public services is not due to frustration.
Across the world, the quality of leadership is measured largely by its commitment to strengthening education, healthcare, and other essential services.
Those who choose to ignore these realities are free to do so. But the decline is evident, and the consequences will ultimately affect the future of our communities and our children. The deterioration of public schools has long-term security implications.
