A decade after the People’s Republic of China introduced the Belt and Road Initiative as a global framework aimed at fostering integration, growth and cooperation among nations, a tale of resilience, partnership is brewing.
Right from the heart of Nigeria’s Igbesa community nestled amid lush greenery and vibrant culture, a notable story of a woman, Mrs. Yetunde Akinboade, whose unwavering dedication spanned 12 years, unfolds.
Hers is the story of a Nigerian Head Teacher whose career embodies the spirit of service, who inspires not only her students, but also her nation. China’s BRI, according to President Xi Jingpin, was a visionary plan meant to usher in a new era of economic prosperity, peace and shared benefits for humanity.
To commemorate its decade-long milestone, the China Global Television Network (CGTN), featured an ambitious project tagged Rising with Pride, a documentary series to acknowledge and celebrate the success stories of BRI across the African, Asian and South America countries.
Nations touched by the transformative power of China’s BRI serve as a testament to its impact, showing that its essence was beyond the tangible economic gains witnessed in completed projects and thriving sectors.
To also show that BRI was to leave and indelible mark on the lives of ordinary citizens, the China-Nigeria Friendship School was established in Igbesa, a suburb of Ogun State, constructed by Chinese companies operating within the Ogun Guangdon Free Trade Zone, but one that had shattered barriers to education for children within the locality.
The school is to provide access to quality education that was once a distant dream for many of those children.
Mrs. Yetunde Akinboade was placed at the helm and poured her all into the school and students. Eventually, CGTN recognized her exceptional management skills, dedication and professionalism and decided to make her the focal point of its documentary in the effort to celebrate merit in service.
Though, Akinboade retired in June 2023, the marks she left behind continue to demonstrate her commitment to the school’s mission.
The documentary shows that at the commencement of a particular school year, the head teacher ensured that two underprivileged students named Jeremiah and Solomon, were not left out of the opportunity to pursue their educational dreams.
As they saw the head teacher who personally went to search for them, their faces lift up.
Even before her retirement, she made sure that she connected with the new head teacher, a woman named Mrs. Ajo, and entrusted her with the wellbeing and educational upkeep of the two youngsters.
Ajo, who also was a pioneer teacher in the school, and having been mentored by the outgoing teacher, grasped the lessons in the institution’s values for growth and its commitment to nurturing on young minds.
The retired head teacher then went a step further by creating and maintaining a WhatsApp group to track progress of the over 450 students who have ventured into the school she was leaving behind to showcase her interest in their quality developments.
Even at that, the impact of the Ogun Guangdon Free Trade Zone still extended beyond the school’s walls. It is a 10-kilometer double-lane road adorned with solar streetlights winding into the community to usher in a new era of connectivity and safety, also provided with boreholes to quench the thirst of the students and members of the surrounding communities.
To buttress the encouraging impression ingrained by Mrs. Yetunde Akinboade and the legacy embraced by Mrs. Ajo, the Lagos Chinese Consulate, earlier in 2023, affirmed the school’s importance by adding a tapestry of support including a cafeteria, additional block of classrooms.
Commenting on the CGTV show, a representative said: “For me, this is a story that transcends borders. It is a testament to the power of partnership and the enduring bonds forged through the Belt and Road Initiative. It is a story that showcases how the dedication of one remarkable teacher, though retired, can ignite a chain of reaction of hope, prosperity and shared dreams, bridging the divide between nations while fostering a brighter future for all.”
