The Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has dismissed the erroneous impression being created in the minds of adolescents/youths, which undermines the importance of education, stressing that education is not a scam.
Ogiame made the assertion, Thursday October 24 in Warri Delta State, during the maiden ‘The Future of the Warri Child’ seminar organized for select students, from different secondary schools in Warri and environs.
The conference was put together by the Office of the Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri/Liaison to NNPCL and CORA Care Foundation, with a view to address social vices confronting the physical, emotional and psychological development of adolescents aged 12-19 years in Warri.
The Olu, who was represented by the Aboludero of Warri, Chief (Engr.) Dr. Wilson Edun Olley, said: “Don’t let anyone tell you education is a scam. Education is never a scam.”
Chief Olley, who gave a story of how he became an engineer as well as first to build a duplex in his village, said, his success was made possible, because of the education he acquired.
Whilst enjoining the students to take their education seriously, in order to become useful persons in the society, the Warri monarch, unveiled the Atuwatse III Annual Inter-Collegiate Quiz/Debate Competition, saying the event will hold by January 2025, with the winner coasting home with ten million naira (N10,000,000).
According to the King, the competition is aimed at bringing the glory days of Warri Child and encourage them to inculcate the culture of reading.
The Olu, also promised to pay the WAEC enrollment of one hundred (100) students, drawn from different schools in Warri and environs.
The Sole Representative of the Olu of Warri/Liaison to NNPCL (Certified Master Trainer) Comr. Edema Collins Oritsetimeyin, announced the payment of the WAEC enrollment fees of twenty five (25) students.
He said the event is about empowering the adolescents 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, that’s why we are mentoring them.”
Comr. Edema, 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 drug addiction, 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 be organized for teachers, who are just concerned about the salaries they receive and not the passion for the job.
Edema, thanked the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atuwatse III for helping to bring “The Future of the Warri Child”, a dream which he (Edema Collins 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 (Warri and 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 matters, because they will become what we (parents, guardians, teachers, etc) have trained them to become.”
He pointed out that the Warri Child, is the leader people will look up to tomorrow, warning that if he/she doesn’t get it right, it reflects on the future they would enjoy.
Earlier, 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 admonished the students to acquire technical/vocational skills, to find solutions to the myriad of the nation’s problems.
Mattu, also advised youths 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 imbibe good morals in their children, to make the society a better place.
The 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 a renowned Public Speaker and Resource Person, advised the students to be resilient in every area of their lives, especially with their education, just as he asked parents to train them in the ways of God Almighty.
Schools that participated in the one-day seminar are; Yonwuren College, Warri, Bunmi Schools, Warri, Ginuwa Grammar School, Gbokoda, Delta Secondary School, Warri, Army Day Secondary School, Effurun, Atuwatse II College, Ifiekporo, Demonstration Secondary School, Warri, Foursquare Secondary School, Warri, Rute International School, Bendel Estate, Effurun, Ugbokodo Secondary School, Okpe, Hussey College, Warri, Edjeba College, Warri, First Baptist School, Warri, College of Commerce, Warri, Elevado, Warri, Dom-Domingos College, Warri and Iwere College, Koko.
