The Secretary of the Ewu-Okuama Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Management Committee, Chief Austin Emaduku, has urged children in the Okuama IDP Camp to cultivate a strong reading culture and focus on their studies to achieve greatness in the future.
Chief Emaduku, a prominent figure from the Udu Kingdom and the Head of Personnel Management for Ughelli South Local Government Area, stated this at the camp on Thursday, bringing with him a donation of books and 200 loaves of bread to encourage the children to continue their education despite their current circumstances.
He gave an inspirational talk to boost the children’s morale after the trauma they experienced following the destruction of their community by the Nigerian Army. The destruction, which included the local primary and secondary schools, was in retaliation for the killing of 17 soldiers near Okuama, leaving the children out of school for about three months.
Speaking to the children after leading them through a series of reading exercises, Chief Emaduku emphasized the importance of education in becoming future leaders. He encouraged the children to work hard and excel in their studies in order to pursue successful careers.
“If you want to become a local government chairman, a governor, a professor, a House of Assembly member, or a successful businessperson, you must take your studies seriously,” he said. “Look at the Chairman of Ughelli North, who is coming to celebrate his birthday with you. He earned his position through education, and I want you all to use this opportunity to start reading your books so that you too can achieve success in the future.”
Chief Emaduku continued, “There is bread here, and there are books too. We eat bread to survive, but we need books to truly live our lives. These books belong to all of you. I will give them to the camp commandant so that anyone who wants to read can access them. As for the bread, you will all share it to gain strength for your studies.”
To further motivate the children, Chief Emaduku also awarded cash prizes to several primary school students who demonstrated strong reading skills. He promised to keep an eye out for promising students, with the intention of offering scholarships to those who excel.
