Stakeholders of Kokodiagbene Community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West council area of Delta State, led by the chairman, Comrade Ark Selegha, have commended the Special Assistant on Special Duties to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Amb. (Dr.) Powede Uyadonghan (JP) for his recent sponsorship of internally registered pupils and students of the community ahead of their final examinations.

The commendation is contained in an official statement signed by the chairman of Kokodiagbene Education Committee, Hon. Mackson Ukuli (Ph.D in view), and made available to PENGlobal on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

Other stakeholders mentioned are the Principal and Secretary of Kokodiagbene Secondary School, Adeghoro Bridget, and Rev. Oreva Idudhe, respectively; the Head Teacher of Ebiabu Primary School, Ejovi Happy; and the Assistant Head Teacher of Ebiabu Primary School II, Matthew Douperegha.

According to the statement, the S.A. on Special Duties to the MD of the NDDC has cleared the bills for 14 internal students set to sit for the 2025/2026 edition of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) scheduled for May/June 2026.

For Ebiabu Primary School and the Ebiabu Primary School II, Powede, who was a former chairman of Kokodiagbene Community, cleared the registration bills for 61 pupils that are set to sit for the 2025/2026 edition of the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE).

Speaking on behalf of Comrade Selegha and other stakeholders, the Education Committee chairman applauded the act of Powede describing it as "exemplary" while he called on other privilege sons and daughters of the oil-rich community to follow in the footstep of the former chairman.

He said, "We convey our gratitude to Amb. (Dr.) Powede Uyadonghan (JP), the Special Assistant on Special Duties to the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for this philanthropic gesture and practical demonstration of his contributions to the growth and development of Kokodiagbene community by enrolling our children (61 pupils of Ebiabu Primary School I & II, and 14 students of Kokodiagbene Secondary School) for their forthcoming exams.

"This noble gesture which has become an annual give-back has not only helped to ease the financial burden on parents, but have also offered beneficiaries the opportunity to further their educational careers rather than drop out of school. It is also helping in aiding and building a strong community in the future through education by preparing the youths today to be more qualified to lead tomorrow.

"While we call on other sons and daughters of Kokodiagbene who are well-to-do to borrow leaf from Hon. Powede, it is our prayers that the Almighty God bless the noble exemplary action of the former chairman and cause his financial chest to never run dry," he added.

The 2026 WAEC exam is scheduled for the traditional May/June period and will be the first to be fully computer-based (CBT), a transition being phased in, with objective papers moving to CBT in November 2025, and both objectives and essay sections being fully CBT by May/June 2026. The exams will no longer be held at individual schools but in designated centers, according to sources.

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