The 2025/2026 edition of the Anambra State Arm Our Youths (ArOY) Health Campaign Schools Challenge by Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora, OCI Foundation International has ended with Community Secondary School, Isuofia emerging as the first among others in the State.
The event which marked its 5th edition was held at the Post Primary Schools Service Commission, PPSSC headquarters hall, Awka attracted the PPSSC Chairman, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, her Deputy, Dr. Nkiru Naomi Samuel, Board Members, Zonal Directors, Principals, teachers and students from ten outstanding secondary schools among the 270 secondary schools of the six Educational Zones in the State.
In her opening speech, the chairman of the occasion, Lady Joy Ulasi commended the president and founder of the OCI Foundation International, Dr. Chris Ifediora for his passion in the prevention and promotion of breast and cervical cancer awareness in the secondary schools to reduce the incidents of the disease that ravages mankind.
While commending the incumbent PPSSC Chairman, Prof Ikediugwu for transforming the image of teachers in Anambra State, Lady Ulasi who was a former chairman of the PPSSC, and All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS in the State as well as the State Ambassador of OCI also thanked the school principals and teachers for Keeping the flag of the OCI Foundation International vision flying by ensuring that the teachers who were trained by the Foundation to teach the subject in Civic Education are painstakingly carrying it out.
“The students who are being taught about the risk factors of cancer, and the preventive measures are expected to take the knowledge to their homes and communities. An App is available on the smart phones Play store and it is free.”, Lady Ulasi concluded.
The PPSSC Awka Chairman, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu paid tribute to the OCI Foundation International President, and Founder, Dr. Ifediora who has been bank rolling the event since 2019 to bring the knowledge of the preventive techniques of breast and cervical cancers to the young students, urging the students to value the knowledge for the good of all.
In a keynote address, the President and Founder, OCI Foundation International, Dr. Chris Ifediora, represented by the State OCI Liaison Officer, Mrs Imelda Emeka lauded the collaborative effort of the PPSSC, Awka for the successful introduction of anti-breast and anti-cervical teachings into the regular curriculum of all public Senior Secondary Schools in the State.
Dr. Ifediora noted that the gathering was to celebrate the outstanding performances of the students during the 2026 World Cancer Day on February 4, which was school-based where the students created the awareness by themselves, thereby furthering the Foundation’s zeal to expose them young in the fight against cancer.
“With the World Cancer Day Theme for 2026 as “United by Unique”, the students demonstrated exceptional passion, talent, and dedication to the fight against cancer in their various schools. We are highly impressed by the level of knowledge these children have gathered and also the level of commitment from the teachers, principals, and other staff of the schools’, he declared.
In their separate Comments, the Secretary, PPSSC, Awka, Mrs Benedine Anagor; the Zonal Director, Otuocha zone, Mrs Nkoli Agbata; Board Members I and II, Dr. Uche Okeke, and Dr. Bibian Okoli expressed joy with the Foundation’s vision bearer, Dr. Ifediora for his generosity and magnanimity in catching the students young, calling on the students to key into the programme.
Responding on behalf of the students, Master David Clement and Miss Chinemelum Umeh extolled the Foundation for the wonderful opportunity given to them to be better informed about their health, and prayed God to bless them.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Director, Schools Education Quality Assurance Department,
Lady Sabina Ndigwe thanked everyone for their respective roles in making the event a success, while commending the ingenuity of the schools that emerged the best from their respective zones.
Highlights were award presentations to the ten outstanding schools with their teachers, and drama presentation by Community Secondary School, Umuokpu, among others.
