My Desire to Give Back to the Society, Gave Birth to Zuma Memorial Academy – Mrs Napoleon

My Desire to Give Back to the Society, Gave Birth to Zuma Memorial Academy – Mrs Napoleon

By: Collins Mbakwe

The Managing Director and proprietress of Zuma Memorial Academy, Mrs Maria Napoleon has said that her desire to give back to the society what the society gave to her led to the establishment of Zuma Memorial Academy, Maiduguri. She made this statement while addressing newsmen in her office recently.
Responding to newsmen on why despite having best facilities, school fees in Zuma Memorial Academy are much less compared to that of many other private schools in the state, Mrs Napoleon revealed that one of the major reasons behind establishing the school was to give back to the society what it has given her family, adding that nurturing and improving children through offering qualitative education, is one of the sources of her joy.
Mrs Napoleon explained that running a private school has a lot of challenges, but however expressed satisfaction that in the end, the major aim is not defeated as the children are given sound education.
Speaking on the adverse effects of Covid19 on the nation’s educational system, especially the private schools,  Mrs Napoleon who has been scored high for her outstanding administrative skills, expressed regret for the stagnation in the educational sector, describing the situation as unfortunate.
Continuing, she expressed pity for all school owners and teachers of the private schools for all they have been going through as a result of the novel Corona Virus pandemic, pointing out that private schools have been more hard-hit by the Covid19.
On the magnificent facilities of the school, which have received several encomia, she admitted that so much money has been sunk in it,  noting that putting in place good facilities is a condition sine qua non for enhanced teaching and learning. 
Explaining the motto of the school which reads: Knowledge is a defence’, Mrs Napoleon said that with knowledge, one can’t be intimidated or pushed around, adding that people’s right can’t be easily trampled upon once they have acquired knowledge. She insisted that acquiring knowledge is the best form of defence’.
Still speaking, she stated that the mission statement of the school is ‘to become a household name in the provision of qualitative education that is second to none in Nigeria’, adding that the vision of the school is ‘to build a strong and viable educational foundation for the Nigerian child with strong visionary and intellectual mind. Mrs Napoleon expressed happiness that the school has since its establishment been on the right track towards achieving its aims and objectives, as enshrined in the mission and vision statements.
Her words, “Granted that the primary aim of any business is to make a profit, one of the major aims for establishing Zuma Memorial Academy is to give back to the society what it has given my family. The joy of seeing children groomed and nurtured in school is unquantifiable. Many people who come here often say we have one of the best facilities among other private schools in the state. The money already sunk into the school can’t be recouped in several years to come, but my joy is that it provides an enabling environment for effective teaching and learning.  The condition Covid19 has plunged Nigerians and educational sector in particular into is quite unfortunate.
Concluding, Mrs Napoleon used the medium to call on the federal government not to renege on its promises to the private school owners and the teachers of the private schools.

My Desire to Give Back to the Society, Gave Birth to Zuma Memorial Academy – Mrs Napoleon