By Sunday Elom N
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Christopher Owolabi, weekend, presented envelopes containing certain undisclosed amount of money to nine best pupils of the Police Children School II, Awka, during the school’s 2021 graduation ceremony.
Presenting the gift, CP Owolabi, who was represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of administration at the State Police Headquarters, Awka, ACP Festus Irorere, urged the parents not to leave the work of upbringing and training of their children solely in the hands of teachers and school instructors, as discipline and inculcation of good morale in children starts from home.
“If we are defaulting in our responsibility as parents, it will affect the school stage and invariably affect other parts of their lives. That is why we should put more efforts in helping to bring up our children in the fear of God,” he said.
The CP also pledged willingness and readiness to assist the school within his capacity whenever the need arises, and therefore, prayed God to continue leading the school management, staff and pupils in the right direction, in order to remain law-abiding citizens and future leaders.
Expressing her joy and gratitude to the CP for the gift, the overall best pupil, Chioma Okpe (Primary 6), said that she was happy because “I took the first position and it is my best day ever. My parents came and I am so happy today.”
“I feel so happy for receiving gift from the Commissioner of Police. I want to be a medical doctor and I am promising my parents that I will make them better parents in this world,” she added.
Also, a parent and alumnus of the school, Mrs. Nwofia Oluchi, whose son, Divine Chukwudukwe, was among the two best pupils in Nursery 2 said, “I feel honoured and I appreciate the commissioner for the gift. It encourages the children to do better.”
In his address, the chairman of the occasion and head of Photo Desk, Orient Daily Newspaper, Chief Udochukwu Ogbonna, advised parents to invest in the education and moral life of their children, saying that, “if they think they are spending too much, they should ask the uneducated people how their lives are nowadays.”
According to Chief Ogbonna, “Training of children is like buying shares in quoted companies in Nigeria Stock Exchange. If you buy enough shares in good companies, you will always have good dividends at the end of the business year.”
Chief Ogbonna, who made reference to the current Director-General of the World Trade Union (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, insisted that, “indeed, investing in our children is the best investment anybody can make.”
He however, noted that “it is a feat that will not be achieved when the children’s teachers are not happy,” and therefore, he urged parents and teachers to work hand in hand to reach the best target.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Head Mistress of the school, Mrs. Margaret Achoru, lamented the setbacks caused by the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and #EndSARS protest on school activities across the nation since 2020.
Mrs. Achoru, however, appreciated parents and teachers for their unflinching support throughout the trying period, and noted that the school was able to continue teaching and learning activities despite all odds.
According to her, the school is known for producing intelligent pupils with high morale because of its standard foundation, which is why “they easily cope with their work even when they get to secondary schools.”
Meanwhile, the school’s Head Teacher had solicited for financial support from the general public to help them fix the broken doors, windows and parameter fence in the school, and also get white boards for teaching and learning.