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Worried about the increasing rate of out of school adolescents and violation of their rights to education in the state, Enugu State Government, took an advocacy visit to Umuode, Amafor- Ugbuawka in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the State, where parents were sensitized on the need to send their children to school.
They were also informed about the benevolence of the state Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah , who knows that education is key to human capacity development, in providing excellent educational program through the Enugu Smart Green schools which is being established in 260 political wards of Enugu state.
The Enugu State Project Coordinator for Adolescents Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, Dr. Ebele Georgina Chukwu Onuora, at the Community square, stressed the need for parents and guardians to enrol their children in school, avoiding gender discrimination.
Pix: Dr. Chukwu Onuora
She equally reminded them that there is free education from primary 1 to Junior Secondary School Three ( JSS3)
Dr. Ebele Georgina Chukwu Onuora, who is also one of the Girl Child Education Ambassadors, said “the state Government is working assiduously to ensure that every child gets educated.”
She went further to elucidate that ,”each child is a star, and that by going to school, they will be enlightened, developed and empowered to compete with other children across the world. But if, on the other hand, our children are sent off into early marriages or as child labourers, they won’t attain their greatness, and this will exacerbate the challenges school system faces, which includes, high rate of out of school children, Borderline Intellectual Functioning, criminality among adolescents, exposure to hard drugs, to mention a few.
She also spoke on sexual abuse, urging parents to be close to their children, especially the female children, encourage them to speak out when they were molested so that the crime will be nipped in the bud
On his part, a teacher, Samuel Chukwu , lamented that many indigent children do not go to school. According to him, some completed secondary school and could not further their studies because they could not afford to further their studies.
He thanked the State Government for the advocacy, saying it will help them intensify efforts to train their children.
Pix: Samuel Chukwu
Woman leader of the community, Mrs Modesta Edeh, commended the state Government for the visit. She said she was a victim of gender discrimination and was not enrolled in school. Mrs Edeh lamented that she had no opportunity to go to school and appealed to the State government to help them in training their children in school.
Pix: Mrs Modesta Edeh
The Chairman of the community, Sunday Chukwu thanked the State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, for his numerous developmental programs in the state. He thanked the State Government for the sensitization and donations m,ade .
He prayed God to bless Governor and his team. He also thanked Dr Ebele Georgina Chukwu on the afvocacy visit. And promised to spread the message to members of his community.
Pix 1: The Chairman of Umuode, Sunday Chukwu
Pix 2: Dr. Ebele Georgina Chukwu Onuora sensitizing some members of the community
Pix: Simon Chukwu (2nd left)
Earlier, a member of the Community, Simon Chukwu thanked Enugu State Government for the sensitization. He promised they will encourage their people to send their children, including the girl- child to school , so that they will be useful to themselves, the community and the society at large
Highlight of the event was donation of bags of fertilizer and drinks to the farmers in the community.
Pix: Dr. Chukwu Onuora handing over bags of fertilizer to the chairman,Simon Chukwu.
The people of Umuode Amafor Ugbuawka were delighted , they sang, danced and prayed for more dividends of democracy.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama