Female Students in Akwa Ibom State have been advised to eschew all vices, take their studies seriously and work hard towards becoming prominent women in the society in future.
The wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, gave the charge on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, when she paid an unscheduled visit to Community Commercial Secondary School, Ikono Uyo, Uyo, to mark the International Day of the Girl Child with a cross section of female students.
The First Lady admonished the girls to honour their bodies and keep away from all immoral acts that are capable of truncating their chances of reaching their desired goals in life.
“You have to work hard and be serious with your studies. The key to the world today is education, don’t trade it for anything. Dear girl child, I am addressing you specially today to respect yourself and your bodies. Today having declared that you are special, hold on to that. Don’t let that leave you.”
“Please use this day to address yourself by seeing yourself in a different light. Like I have said, you are a special breed that is made for greatness. I want you to see yourself as such as you are being celebrated,” she noted.
While urging the girls to sow what they intend to reap in the future, the Governor’s wife expressed optimism that among the girls were future doctors, pastors, lawyers, engineers, architects among other notable professions.
Amazed at how neat and well behaved the students were, Pastor Patience Eno appreciated the principal of the school as well as the teachers for instilling in them good morals.
In her words; “If with this large population of students, you all are still this bright as I have seen, I must commend you and the teachers. You all have done noble. God bless you and your own children.”
Earlier, welcoming the Governor’s Wife to the citadel of learning, the Principal of Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Oku Ikono, Uyo, Mrs. Nsebong Eyibio, thanked Pastor Patience Eno for coming to the school to celebrate the International Day with the girls, saying it has given them a huge sense of belonging and happiness.
She highlighted some of the challenges facing the school to include lack of a spacious library, well equipped laboratory and lack of perimeter fencing, and called for support which the Governor’s wife gladly obliged to by making a financial donation.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Wife of the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Mrs. Akaninyene Uwemedimo and the Wife of the Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Mrs Joyful Eyo applauded the Governor’s wife, Pastor Patience Umo for taking the lead to celebrate the Girl Child, particularly, for her visit to Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Oku Ikono which they noted is in furtherance of her resolve to engage in rural development and impact positively on the lives of every Akwa Ibom child.
The girls were charged to exercise their ‘Girl Power’ while giving the acronym of a GIRL as: G – Glowing, I – Intensity, R – Resilience, L – Light to reflect the remarkable qualities, strength and potentials embedded in them.
Delivering a vote of thanks, the Senior Prefect for Girls of the School, Miss Enobong Ukpabio, thanked the Governor’s wife for choosing her school for the 2023 commemoration of the Day of the Girl Child.
She also thanked her for leading other female stakeholders in the state to the school for the event and prayed God to bless the wife of the Governor.
Highpoint of the visit was presentation of gift packs to female students.
The Event had in attendance the Chairman of Nsit Atai Local Government, Hon. Emem Ibanga, the Vice Chairman, Uyo Local Government, Hon. Sylvia Ekong, teachers and students
