BY: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
The chairman of Bakassi local government area of Cross River state, Hon. Chief Iyadim Amboni, has described education as a panacea for development and as such, should not be toyed with.
Iyadim, made the assertion during the Cultural and Career/Graduation ceremony of Giver’s International Schools, Ikang Town in Bakassi local government area..
He emphasised that “no nation can achieve technological breakthrough without education”.
According to him, “some countries are not naturally endowed as Nigeria and other African nations but they have attained technological heights which we are yet to reach because they the advantage through education”
He urged parents to take the education of their children very seriously as well as force them to go to school while commending the graduands for their efforts and also advised that they should see themselves as future leaders and worthy ambassadors of the school
Iyadim disclosed that he assumed office as Chairman of the area last year, the celebration was the first of its kind that he attended in the area and he commended the proprietor and staff of the school for putting up a colourful celebration of note
The Chairman, however, assured that the council through its Supervisor , Education/ Youth and Sports, will liaise with the school to identify pupils and students with disability and recommend them to the council for support
On the cultural content of the celebration, he advised parents to teach their wards their local dialects as lack of understanding and communicating in local dialects will make it hard for their wards to speak foreign language correctly, adding that Nigeria is a diverse country and there is unity in diversity
The Chairman used the occasion to administer Vitamin A to boost immune system and worm tablet to children between age one and five years under the Maternal New Born Child Health program which ended yesterday
The Father of Day at the celebration, Chief Ene Cobham, described it as wonderful and first of its kind in the area and suggested that it be given a wide publicity to enable the school expose its potential
Cobham, a one time Vice Chairman of Bakassi Local Government Area, noted that the cultural displays by the students of the school was colorful and a carnival of note while appealing that government should attend to the needs of the public secondary school in the area
The proprietor of the Giver’s International Schools, Ikang Town, Bakassi LGA, Mr Victor John Okon, who said the cultural celebration was the third edition, expressed with joy that it has grown in leaps and bounds and he enjoined parents to speak local dialects with their wards
Okon explained that as a business man he decided to expand his investment to the education sector having realized the benefits of good educational background to the people of the area
Highlights of the celebration included news broadcast, procession and award of certificates to graduands , presentation of various cultural groups including their origin, location, attires , delicacies, culture and presentation of electronic gadgets by the PTA to the school