In line with their motto, “Doing Small things with Great Love”, Wodiong Senie Foundation, a community based NGO on Friday February 14th, 2020 purchased not fewer than 30 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration forms for Indigenes of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area drawn from the ten (10) wards of the Local Government.
Speaking at the official presentation of the JAMB Forms print out, Mrs. Joanna Owodiong-Idemeko, the Executive Director of the NGO described education as “a major asset for the advancement of any nation” adding that education remains one of the greatest investments in life that’s capable of enhancing intellectual advancement, moral and attitudinal rectitude in young people.
She further described education as a major step towards building a sound, mental system for the younger generation to build the needed requirements for personal and national progress which she said is the foundation for all-round development in any nation or state.
“Every child is entitled to have qualitative and sound education for a more promising prospect. A country’s development lies solely in its educational system. The high standard of quality education in the nation will give rise to improved changes in the nation’s administration”, the Executive Director of the Foundation submitted.
She however lamented that “In Nigeria, the educational system is nothing to write home about because of its poor infrastructure and inadequate learning facilities as well as unqualified teachers which results in the falling standards in education”.
She also expressed displeasure and dissatisfaction on the dwindling standard of education in Nigeria positing that “It is completely unfounded that a child of 10 years old in Nigeria cannot meet up to the standard of a 6 years old in most developed countries because his or her educational background is poorly built unlike that of the 6 year old who has that strong foundation due to basic education”.
She argued that “Though basic education is in operation in Nigeria, not every child is a beneficiary”.
“The basic education was targeted at every child having a free, universal and compulsory basic education regardless of age, sex, ethnicity or religious backgrounds, language or status but there are lots of children out of school because of financial constraints or religious sentiments which shouldn’t be so”, the Wodiong Senie Foundation boss stated.
She however averred that “For a country to thrive, much attention should be given to the educational sector as future leaders are products of a qualitative educational system”.
Also speaking at the occasion, His Royal Majesty, Edidem Clement Francis Ekpenyong, Paramount Ruler of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area thanked Obong Ide Owodiong-Idemeko, the Obong Uwana Ibesikpo Asutan and Former PDP Senatorial District Aspirant, his wife, Joanna and the Wodiong Senie Foundation for their humanitarian service to the community.
The Royal father who described Obong Ide Owodiong-Idemeko as a man of proven integrity, imbued with charismatic leadership qualities commended him for the laudable steps he has taken in attempt to redefine the academic standard of education in Ibesikpo-Asutan via the numerous philanthropic gestures he and the Foundation have shown to the good and industrious people of Ibesikpo-Asutan Local Government Area in various areas.
In their separate remarks, the Project Coordinator of the organization
Mr. Ifreke Essien, Obong S. P. Udoh, Village Head Ikot Akpan Ndua, Obong Augustine John Essien, Deputy Village Head of Akpa Utong, Mrs. Chewa Okonkwo, guest speaker and Prince Adiakpan, extolled Wodiong Senie Foundation and her sponsors for their contributions towards the educational development of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area in ensuring that the education of the younger generation is given priority to enable them compete with their contemporaries in the society.
They also urged the beneficiaries to make good and judicious use of such opportunity for the progress, sustainability and betterment of the educational advancement of the society and their own future.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Abigail Jackson, who hails from Okop Ndua Erong thanked and appreciated the unprecedented show of love to humanity displayed by the Foundation and promised to come through with an outstanding performance during the matriculation examination and in their future academic pursuits.
