Primary and secondary schools in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State have received free educational materials from the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who is representing the constituency for a second term.

Hon. Kalu, who recently secured the APC ticket to contest the 2027 election for a possible third term in the House, distributed the materials to 26 schools as part of efforts to improve learning conditions under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Support Programme for Education.

The donated items included 1,000 chairs and desks, 8,000 school bags, 10,000 textbooks and exercise books, as well as 100 whiteboards. The intervention is aimed at addressing challenges such as students sitting on bare floors and the lack of basic learning materials in schools.

The Renewed Hope Support Programme for Education is one of several constituency projects initiated by the Deputy Speaker to promote human capital development and youth empowerment in Bende Federal Constituency.

Speaking during the distribution ceremony in Bende, Hon. Kalu told the pupils and students, who attended alongside their teachers, that the intervention was inspired by a vision for their future.

“You are going to be great, greater than me. That’s why we are doing what we are doing today,” he said, adding that President Tinubu remains committed to raising a generation grounded in moral values and quality education.

According to him, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wants you to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and also in what makes life better through education.”

Describing the initiative as “Renewed Hope through Education,” the Deputy Speaker said the programme was designed to encourage students to study hard by providing direct support to schools.

“We don’t want you to be sitting on the floor again. We don’t want you to be looking for lockers in your school. From now on, you are going to have very beautiful lockers. We will also give you books and bags today,” he assured.

Kalu clarified that the 26 beneficiary schools represented only the first batch, disclosing that plans were underway to extend the programme to more schools across the constituency.

“We selected 26 schools today and after that, we are going to select another 26 schools. So, you are lucky to be the first batch,” he said.

It would be recalled that some former federal lawmakers had carried out similar interventions in schools within their constituencies, including Hon. Uko Nkole, who represented Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the immediate past House of Representatives.