The week long Okrika Grammar School Old Boys Association 2012 National Conventional/Reunion has ended in Port Harcourt with a call on Nigerians to improve standard of Education.
Speaking as the chairman of the occasion at a public lecture organized by the OGS Old Boys Association to mark its week long celebration, Professor Joseph Ajienka the Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt who described education as key to success in all human endeavours decried low standard of education in the present day unlike his days at the Okrika Grammar school when he said education was taken seriously.
According to him, “in those days when you attend Port Harcourt primary, St. Andrew Primary School among others one will know that he/she have attended nice school with good teachers ready to teach, now the reverse is the case, now teachers are no more teaching well and the building cannot, the system, no Nigeria Universities have educational sustainable development.
Professor Ajienka who noted that most parents choose to send their children to best schools to enable them have good education, urged Nigerians to improve their system of education for the better to enable Nigeria move forward in education.
In his speech, Professor Nsirim Nduka, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt in the department of Chemical Pathology who stressed the importance of education, lamented the fallen standard of education in Nigeria, as education was no longer on merit.
According to him, students from OGS used to be proud of themselves because they merited their admissions, but today, the reverse is the case.
Professor Nduka who noted that merit was the order of the day in his days, advised Nigerian institution not to throw away merit to enable Nigeria move forward.
In his lecture entitled: Responds on leadership; the guest lecturer at the ceremony professor Chris Wolumati Ogbondah decried corruption and bad leadership in Nigeria.
He also blamed Nigerians for contributing to the bad image of the country, attributing it to underdevelopment.
According to him, Nigerians must understand that they should do the right things and not only the leaders. “Think of what you can do for Nigeria, by this we can move forward and improve our lives,” he added.
In his speech Chief Rufus Ada George the former governor of Rivers State advised Nigerian leaders to always impact their good leadership vision to others to improve on.
The former chief executive officer of the state recalled how former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari initiated green revolution for good food and urged Nigerians leaders to implement such vision “for us to move we must implement good policies and embrace good leadership”.
The week long activities featured registration of Old Boys Association, new members, public lecture, national convention OGSOBA votes and dinner.
Highlight of the event was award of excellence to Hon. Stanley Marshall Uwom, the Commissioner for Housing Rivers State, Ibim Seminitari, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Professor Israel Owate, former Commissioner for Education Rivers State, Friday Nwator, Eze Sunday Amadi Nna, former President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre, among others. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
