BY MICHAEL IKEOGWU -WARRI
THE Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has advised students to take their education seriously to become useful persons in the society and contribute meaningfully in the future.
Ogiame Atuwatse III, gave the advice to a cross section of students drawn from Warri and environs at the maiden edition of the future of the Warri Child organised by the CORA Care Foundation.
The Monarch who was represented by Chief (Engr.) Dr. Wilson Edun Olley, the Aboludero of Warri said, “don’t let anyone tell you education is a scam. Education is never a scam.”
Reflecting on how he became an engineer as well as first to build a duplex in his village Chief Olley said, his success was made possible because of the education he acquired.
HRM. Ogiame Atuwatse III also used the medium to unveiled the Atuwatse III Annual Inter-Collegiate Quiz/ debate competition. He said the event will hold by January 2025 with the winner coasting home with ten million naira (₦10,000,000. 00).
According the monarch, this is to bring the glory days of the Warri Child and to encourage them in reading. The monarch also announced that it shall pay for the WAEC enrollment of 100 drawn from different schools in Warri and its environs. In his speech, the Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri/Liaison to NNPCL (Certified Master Trainer) Prince Edema Collins Oritsetimeyin announced the payment of the WAEC enrollment fees of 25 students.
He said the event is about empowering the adolescent for a sustainable future.
“We want the Warri Child to see the world as a stage for them to perform. They should not be limited and that’s why we are mentoring them. Prince Oritsetimeyin also noted that there will be annual quiz/debate competition titled,”Atuwatse III.
He recalled that during his days at Nana College, Warri, there used to be quiz, literary/debating society.
“That was where Gordons, the popular comedian came from. We have a lot of our guys like that. “There were Jet Club but right now, there’s nothing like that. That vacuum created space for our youths to be involved in drugs addict because they want to be high. They’re involved in unprotected sex. So, we want to fill that vacuum with the quiz/debate competition.”
He also stated that training will also be organised for teachers who are just concerned about the salaries they receive and not the passion for the job.
Prince Oritsetimeyin commended the Olu of Warri Kingdom, HRM. Ogiame Atuwatse III for helping to bring “The Future of the Warri Child” a dream which he (Oritsetimeyin) carried for about twenty two (22) years, to reality.
“His Majesty’s leadership and vision have inspired countless individuals, and I am honoured to be a part of his team. “The Future of the Warri Child” was birthed out of the constant observation of my environment of Warri and its environs.
“Growing up as a core Warri Child my experiences have made me understand the environment, and why we have the kind of youths we have today. Like the quotes in Proverbs 22:6(KJV) train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
“How we train our children matter because they will become what we(parents, guardians, teachers, etc) have trained them to become.” Prince Oritsetimeyin pointed out that the Warri Child is the leader of tomorrow people look up to. He warned that if he/she doesn’t get it right, it reflect on the future they would enjoy.
Earlier on, the Special Assistant to Director-General, Security Matters/Coordinator, Operation Delta Hawk, Eyemobe Mattu in a message admonished the students to be up and doing by towing the right path of life. He also said they should acquire technical vocational skills to find solutions to the myriad of the nation’s problems in the future.
Mattu also admonished the youth to shun crime and other vices saying,”it doesn’t pay. It actually short-lived for the moments. It destroys the future.”
He urged parents, guardians, stakeholders and leaders to continually imbibe in their children and promote good morals amongst them to make the society a better place.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, SMOGVILLE Solution, Segun Manuel urged the government to provide modern day skills for the children to enable them meet with the present realities.
Manuel who is also a Public Speaker and Resource Person also adviced the students to be resilient in every areas of their lives especially with their education just as he asked parents to train them in the ways of God Almighty.
