Clergy warns students against cultism, violence, charges parent on quality education
By Meletus EZE
Rt. Revd Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma, ArchBishop of Enugu Province (Anglican Communion); Engr. Dr Sir Emeka Okwuosa, Group Chief Executive Officer of Oilserv Group (Benefactor) and Anglican Bishop of Nnewi Dioceses, Rt. Revd Ndubuisi Chukwuka Obi, at the cutting of the tape of the ultra-modern school complex in Oraifite, Anambra State on Monday
ARCHBISHOP of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma, has warned students against cultism, examination malpractices and violence, urging parents and guardians to give quality education to their children with a view to making them responsive and responsible in life.
Bishop Chukwuma who gave the advise on Monday while speaking at the dedication/commissioning of a 3-storey school complex donated by a Philanthropist, Sir Emeka Okwuosa, to Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Convent, Oraifite in Egwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, said lack of proper care breeds cultism, violence and other anti-social vices among children.
The Cleric noted that many parents have abandoned their traditional role of providing good parenthood and leadership to their children for acquisition of material wealth, adding that it was the failure of government in running qualitative education that prompted the return of schools to missionary for proper management and discipline.
Earlier, the Founder of the non-governmental organization, Sir. Emeka Okwuosa Foundation, explained that the Foundation which focuses on providing education, food, and health facilities, named the project after his mother Dame Irene Nneka Okwuosa Memorial Convent in memory of her ardent belief in educating the girl-child.
Sir Okwuosa recalled that the ground-breaking ceremony of the project was held on July 8, 2018 during the 8th synod of the Nnewi Diocese, adding that the ultra-modern school complex has the capacity of housing 33 rooms, including 16 classrooms, one ICT room, a fully-equipped library, integrated studio and learning hub, crèche and kindergarten learning centre, a laboratory, art studio, medical and sports room,
According to him, in July 2019, no fewer than 50 students of the Dame Irene Nneka Okwuosa Memorial Convent, Oraifite were awarded certificates, gift items and cash prizes for their outstanding performance by the foundation.
“The presentation was done during the school annual prize-giving day to mark the end of the academic session. Scholarships were also given to four indigent students who emerged as the overall best in different subjects.
Overall, more than 200 students across board have benefitted from the foundation’s secondary school scholarship scheme so far” he stated.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Oilserv Group also said, “The Foundation executed several other developmental projects in Oraifite and its environs.
These include: the 1.5km Dame Irene Nneka Okwuosa road, a completely tarred road with modern drainage and erosion control system; Umunzalu Town hall and Community Civic Centre; 0.5km Eze Okpuzo road; a garri processing factory; provision of motorcycles to indigenous residents to facilitate their transportation businesses; and rehabilitation and modification of water project.
Others, he said, “are annual merit awards to students of Oraifite Boys Secondary School with outstanding academic performance in different subjects; skills acquisition programme and engineer training programme carried out through Oilserv Limited and designed to train individuals in the field of engineering; provision of local security to Irefi, Oraifite, outfitted with a patrol vehicle, radio communications systems, security gear, providing jobs for about 30 men”
“The Foundation has also completed the structure of the foundation’s secretariat at Oraifite and a multi-billion Naira specialist hospital in Oraifite, Anambra State (Dame Irene Nneka Okwuosa Medical Centre).
The medical centre will be equipped with the necessary medical facilities for dialysis to address kidney-related problems”, he disclosed.
Dr Okwuosa further promised to develop the girls’ school in four phases with provision of science laboratory, hostel and staff quarters within four years, adding that the school complex is just the first stage.
“This is not about me but for my late mother without whom I will not able to get the seed of reaching out to people with compassion and human kindness. My mother never had a female child yet many women and ladies passed through her mentoring. Our mother laid the good foundation for us”, he added.
Various speakers at the event including the Bishop of Nnewi Dioceses (Anglican Communion) Rt. Revd Ndubuisi Obi, Chief Chekwas Okorie and Dr Theo Osanakpo (Chairman of the occasion) lauded the Okwuosa family for building on the legacy left to them by their parents, urging other good spirited individuals to emulate the gesture of Sir Okwuosa in developmental projects.
The high point of the occasion which drew prominent Nigerians including members of the State and National Assembly was the cutting of tape to mark the formal opening of the edifice by the Bishop of Nnewi (Anglican Communion) Rt. Rev. Obi.
The excited students of the Convent also thrilled the audience with dance and music.
