A One day Sensitization conference organised by the ethical and attitudinal re-orientation commission, EARCOM, for students and staff of secondary schools in Eket Senatorial District, on pressing social vices in Akwa Ibom State has been successfully concluded.
The event was held at the Government Secondary School, Afaha Eket, with the theme”Being a socially responsible citizen of Akwa Ibom State. While declaring the purpose of the event, the Chairman of EARCOM, Dr.Dorathy Thompson, emphasized that, the Sensitization conference was to educate the future leaders on the dangers of indulging in criminality and social vices prevalent in the society.
Dr Thompson advised the students who were drawn from various secondary schools in Eket Local Government to shun vices that will hinder or distort the peace of the society, and ultimately ruin their lives, Destiny and destroy their future prospects.
Dr.Dorathy Thompson also appreciated the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel for the relative peace that is being witnessed in the state and the robust support he is giving to EARCOM to carry out her crusade against cultism and social vices in the state. She asked the students to support the governor by shunning the anti-peace activities and not yielding to pressure from misguided peers to do evil.
The EARCOM boss during her closing remark informed the students that the state Governor has proposed gift items and prizes to schools that will be free from social vices.
The Chairman of the occasion, who is also the Principal of Government Secondary School Afaha Eket, Mr.Godwin Ekong, in his opening remark, advised the students to take their studies seriously. He pointed out that, throughout his years as a teacher, he is yet to discover any substitute for education. Mr Ekong maintained that, education still remains the bedrock of any successful society and students should be bold enough to say ‘No’ to anything or activities, that will jeopardize their academics. The Principal enjoined the students to take whatever was said in the event very serious, noting that, those are words of experience that cannot be bought with money.
The Keynote Speaker at the event, Mrs.Roseline Essien, wife of the Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, charged the students to be responsible to themselves, their family, the school and to the society they live in. Mrs Essien further stressed that, it is becoming difficult to find responsible students and citizens as even the secondary schools have been infiltrated by bad eggs.
She emphasized on being responsible citizens, reminding the students of the words of the renowned Martin Luther King Jr, who opined that,”intelligence is never enough, intelligence must be matched with good character.” Mrs Roseline Essien gave an elaborate description of of what social vices in our society are and their dangers, listing such to include, drug abuse, cultism, lies, rape, fornication, violence and idolatry among others.
Mrs Essien said that, students should replace these vices with good virtues such as compassion, honesty, humility, respect for constituted authority and above all, charged the students to be prayerful. she ended her speech by telling the students that education is the only legacy that can give you success options while cultism and hard drugs will only lead to death of
There were also questions, comments, contributions from staff, students and invited guests at the Conference and prayers. Some of those who spoke include foremost Nollywood actor, and Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Agriculture Mr Moses Armstrong and music legend, Mr Xto. Both warned the students to shun cultism and never do drugs or engage in immoral behavior including homosexuality, lesbianism and fornication or abortion to safeguard their spiritual and physical health as well as their future.
Dignitaries present at the event are the chairman of EARCOM Dr Dorathy Thompson,The chairman of the occasion Mr Godwin Ekong, wife of the vice Chancellor University of Uyo,Mrs Roseline Essien,The Zenith Bank Manager Mr Oke, SA to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr Moses Armstrong, Hon.Victor Udofia, Mr Xto and staff and students of the invited schools.
