Health Campaign Schools' Challenge: Soludo's community school beats 269 others to emerge top
By Chinedum Treasure
Community Secondary School, Isuofia in Aguata Local government area of Anambra state has emerged as first among the 270 secondary schools of the six Educational Zones in the State in the 2025/2026 edition of the State Arm Our Youths (ArOY) Health Campaign Schools Challenge.
The event, organized by Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora, OCI Foundation International which marked its 5th edition, involved students from ten outstanding secondary schools in the State.
Held at the Post Primary Schools Service Commission, PPSSC headquarters hall, Awka, the competition attracted the PPSSC Chairman, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, her Deputy, Dr. Nkiru Samuel, Board Members, Zonal Directors, Principals and teachers.
Chairman of the occasion, Lady Joy Ulasi praised the president and founder of the OCI Foundation International, Dr. Chris Ifediora for his passion in prevention and promotion of breast and cervical cancer awareness in the secondary schools to reduce incidents of the disease that ravages mankind.
Ulasi, 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 commended the PPSSC boss for transforming the image of teachers in the State.
She further appreciated 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," Ulasi added.
The PPSSC helmsman, 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 them to value the knowledge for the good of all.
Earlier, President and Founder, OCI Foundation International, Dr. Chris Ifediora, represented by 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.
According to Ifediora, the gathering was to celebrate 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.
Speaking separately, 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 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, praying God to bless them.
Director, Schools Education Quality Assurance Department, Lady Sabina Ndigwe in his vote of thanks, appreciated everyone for their respective roles in making the event successful, while commending 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.
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