Itega Ekpudu Celebrates First Secondary School After 70 Years of Waiting

For the first time in over seven decades, children in Itega Ekpudu, a community in Okpoma, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, no longer have to travel several kilometres to neighbouring towns to access secondary education.

The community, through the collective efforts of its chiefs, elders, women, youths, and indigenes living in urban centres, has established its first secondary school.

Spokesman for the community, Dr. Raphael Oko, said classes officially commenced on Monday, September 15, 2025, with 144 students enrolled. The school is currently operating from renovated blocks within the community’s primary school, converted to house Junior Secondary School 1 to 3.

“For more than 70 years, our children trekked long distances daily to attend schools outside our community,” Oko said. “This was a heavy burden on parents and families. Earlier this year, we resolved to break this cycle by creating our own secondary school.”

He described the development as “history in the making,” noting that for the first time, young people in the community can pursue education at home.

According to him, volunteer teachers—mostly indigenes—are handling classes for now. He added that the school has been officially registered with the Cross River State Ministry of Education and the Association of School Proprietors.

Oko, however, appealed to government, organizations, and philanthropists to support the initiative with furniture, laboratories, teachers’ salaries, and other essential facilities to strengthen the school.