The pioneer batch of graduands sponsored by theRiversStategovernment on scholarship toSingaporehas been charged to be employers of labour.
The Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, gave the charge while addressing 93 successful graduands who completed their studies atSingapore, in government House.
Governor Amaechi who congratulated the graduands for making the state proud for their successful completion of their studies and for not wasting the fund paid to them for their education, stressed that education was the first, and second projects of the state, adding that the were sent abroad to acquire greater skills in education because education is the key to success.
He emphasized that the state government has done well on their path by giving them the greatest gift parents can give to their children, pointing out that it was left for them to do their own part in making a decision to be either rich or poor through the skills acquired.
According to him, “just like a lift which carry you wherever you are going, it is you that would make a choice were you want to go, either first, second, nine or tenth floor, depending on the floor you want to go”. He said that government has given them tools to work.
Governor Amaechi who was represented by his Deputy, Engineer Tele Ikuru, warned them not to depend on government employment because the salary cannot be enough for their families, adding that the state government has planted ideas in them and they should share the ideas with one another to be self employed and employers of labour to make a difference in the society.
In his speech, Mr. Noble Pepple, the Chief Executive Director of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency, while presenting the graduands to the parents and the people of the state, commended the governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Chubuike Rotimi Amaechi for the honour done to the graduands for sponsoring them on scholarship abroad.
He revealed that their were 97 students who were sent abroad to study in various skills such as information technology, engineering, amongst others in 2008, but 93 were successful.
Mr. Pepple further disclosed that there were other students sent on scholarship spread across various countries like America, Europe, Britain, amongst others, adding that the need to ensure quality education through scholarship for Nigerian youths was not limited to the past leaders like Diette Spiff, the first military governor of Rivers State, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first premier minister of the western region, among others, stressing that the present administration led by governor Amaechi has done marvelously on that gesture as well.
Earlier in his speech, Mr. Godwin Paul, the manager of RSSDA noted that the aim of the gathering was to show gratitude to theRiversStategovernment and to appreciate the graduands for making them proud and welcome them for their successful completion of their various studies.
In his speech, Mr. Monibo Ben Whyte who spoke on behalf of the parents of the graduands and the father of the best graduating students, expressed gratitude to the Rivers State government and appealed to the state government to create job opportunities for the graduands to have something doing.
Mrs. Alita Boma West the representative of the graduands who spoke on behalf of the graduands, noted that they were like the ten virgins in the scripture who were chosen by Jesus Christ.
She thanked the state government for what it had done for them and promised to be good ambassadors of the state. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
