Amid rising views among secondary school students in Delta State that education is a scam, the Olu of Warri, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse III, urged young people to abandon such ideas. He encouraged students in Warri and nearby areas to value their education, emphasizing its importance for a brighter future.
The monarch shared this message during the inaugural one-day seminar titled “The Future of the Warri Child,” organized by CORA Care Foundation at the Brown Hill Centre in Ogunu, Warri.
Speaking through Chief Wilson Edun Olley, the Aboludero of Warri Kingdom, the Olu of Warri emphasized that nothing compares to the value of education. He urged students not to believe anyone who claims that education is a scam, affirming that it is not. He shared his own story, explaining how education helped him become an engineer and the first person in his village to build a duplex.
The Launch of a New Quiz and Debate Competition
During the event, HRM Ogiame Atuwatse III also announced the upcoming Atuwatse III Annual Inter-Collegiate Quiz and Debate Competition, which will begin in January 2025.
The Olu of Warri announced that the winner of the competition would be awarded N10 million. Additionally, he pledged to cover the WAEC enrollment fees for 100 students across various Warri schools.
Prince Edema Collins Oritsetimeyin, the Olu’s Sole Representative and Liaison to NNPCL, also pledged to pay WAEC enrollment fees for 25 students, emphasizing that this effort aims to empower youth for a sustainable future. He expressed a desire to revive intellectual activities like quizzes and debates in Warri, noting their role in shaping successful public figures, such as comedian Gordons. Oritsetimeyin, however, lamented the decline in extracurricular programs like the Jet Club, attributing it to rising issues such as drug abuse, unprotected sex, and teenage pregnancy. He explained that the goal of the quiz and debate competitions is to fill this gap.
He also stressed the importance of retraining teachers to reignite their passion for teaching, highlighting their critical influence on students’ futures. Prince Oritsetimeyin commended the Olu of Warri for actualizing “The Future of the Warri Child” initiative, a vision he had cherished for 22 years.
Other speakers at the event, including Eyemobe Mattu, Special Assistant to the Director-General of Security Matters and Coordinator of Operation Delta Hawk, encouraged students to avoid crime and learn vocational skills. Segun Manuel, MD/CEO of SMOGVILLE Solutions, urged the government to offer modern vocational training to help students face current challenges.
This initiative reflects the Warri Kingdom’s dedication to investing in its youth’s education and future, ensuring they grow into successful and responsible adults.
