NGO flag-off success actualization seminar for Delta schools ~ Truth Reporters

 

…Ndakara calls on government to address shortage of teachers in Orogun

By Foster Akpore

An emerging Non Governmental Organization, Alliance for Leadership, Equity and Good Governance (ALEGG) has on Monday 24 to Friday 28 January, 2022 flagged off her Success Actualization Seminar, themed Optimizing Scholars for Maximum Impact for students of Basic & Secondary Schools in Delta State.

The activity which is part of the Project “Strengthening Paths for Advancement and Community Engagement (SPACE)”, is aimed at optimizing students for success by instilling the right mindset & value reorientation and was facilitated by the duo of Foster Akpore and Chiedozie Onyeukwu with sessions on dream and goal setting, principles of success, life skill, achiever's spotlight, scholarships opportunities, etc.

The five days programme which was in collaboration with Orogun Progress Union led by Chief Benson Ndakara (Esq), impacted over nine hundred (900) students, staff and community representatives of the nine schools that make up Orogun Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Government.

They include Orogun Grammar School, Ekruopia Secondary School, Aragba Secondary School, Ebor Secondary School, Emonu Comprehensive High School, Orhoera Secondary School, Omo Secondary School, Imodje Secondary School and Salubi Secondary School.

In a related development, the Chief Inspector of Education, Ughelli North, Dr. John Ojogho while commending ALEGG’s intervention in schools within the Council, expressed the Ministry’s willingness to broaden the scope and partnership to mentor more schools in line with Senator Ifeanyi Okowa’s SMART agenda.

Meanwhile, the President General of Orogun, Chief Benson Ndakara has used the opportunity of the recent teacher recruitment exercise as announced by the Post Primary Education Board to call on government to address what he called “the perennial shortage of teachers in Orogun once and for all.”

Chief Ndakara further explained that “the outlook from the data gotten from a social audit of government secondary schools as published in the Orogun Kingdom Development Template reflects a yawning gap in teacher-students ratio that require urgent intervention to bridge.

"We are hopeful and confident that the government of His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, being a friend of Orogun would help to address this daunting challenge, most especially in the critical subjects like Mathematics, English Language, Chemistry, Physics, Information Technology, Basic Science, Geography, Biology and the like that our children so desperately need.”

In his remark, the President of Obodeti-Orogun, Chief (Sir) Solomon Awero, who attended the seminar with community executives, harped on the need for students to be a better version of their former selves, live exemplary lives and practice delayed gratification.

In his words, “when this population alone is better, Orogun would be a better place because each and every one of you can touch the nook and cranny of the community.

"What the President General of Orogun, Chief Benson Ndakara, myself, your Principal, teachers and Mr. Foster Akpore want from you is not to give us money, but to be an excellent student.

"Also, learn to practice the virtue of delayed gratification by not getting involved with what you will do at the end of your life at the start of your life.”

Also responding, the Principal of Emonu Comprehensive High School, Mrs. Onojeje Grace thanked the organizers for the initiative, stating in her words, “The seminar is very timely and beneficial, not only for the students but me in particular. Luckily, I recorded the sessions and when I get home, I will give it to my son who is also in secondary school to listen and benefit just as the students of Emonu.” 

Meanwhile, Agwa Blessing, a Senior Secondary School two student of Orogun Grammar School expressed gratitude to the ALEGG and stated that “the lectures have brought clarity and focus on how to achieve my goals in life. I also learnt that just like Demas Akpore, who founded Orogun Grammar School when there was no single Secondary School in Orogun, I should dream big dreams and look out for needs to solve in my community.”

One major highpoint from the tour of the schools was a commitment from the representative of Aragba Development Union and Principal of Aragba Secondary School to make the school library which is currently under lock and key accessible to the students due to ALEGG’s advocacy drawn from concerns raised by the students.

“As we conclude the flag-off of Success Actualization Seminar in Orogun, the journey to impact and help one million Delta State youths to discover their purpose between now and the next five years, have just begun but we need the support of all to achieve this,” Chiedozie stated.