By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
It was day of jubilation and fun-fare as Uwangue College in Warri, in Warri South Local Government Area Delta State organized her cultural day. The programme which took place on Thursday in the school premises was described by many as one the best in recent time.
In her address, the Principal of Uwangue College, Warri, Mrs Anthonia Nneka Udi said cultural events and competition are ways of re-awakening in Nigerians, the consciousness of the rich African cultural values just as she said, they help children to imbibe these values.
According to her, Nigeria schools are mostly products of colonialism such that almost everything Nigerians do reflect the English culture while the rich African cultural ethics and values are debased. She added that, unless conscious efforts are made to organize cultural events and competition such as this, Africa nay Nigerians’ rich cultural values will go into extinction.
Mrs. Udi said, it is against this backdrop that the programme of the day would remind the parents and teachers of their roots and therefore thanked the Commissioner for Education and the Ministry of Education, Delta State for making for secondary schools to organize these events in this regard.
She said:” Permit me to use this opportunity to thank the Commissioner for Education and Ministry of Education Delta State for making it compulsory for secondary schools in the state to organize these cultural events and competitions as a way of re-awakening in us the consciousness of our own rich African cultural values and also helping our children to imbibe those values.
Our schools are mostly product of colonialism …almost everything reflects English culture: we speak English, wear English clothes, eat English food, sing English songs. Unless conscious efforts are made to organize cultural events and competition like the one we have today, our own very rich African values will all become downtrodden and forgotten..”
The energetic and eloquent Principal said, although she has made substantive progress in the few months she assumed the mantle of leadership in the school, the institution still faces numerous challenges.
According to her, among other things, the school lacks well equipped science laboratories and library that ought to aid effective teaching and the preparation of the students especially for their final examinations; there are shortage of teachers especially in some key subject areas like English language and literature, the swampy and marshy nature of the school playground which often hinders the school sporting activities and high rate of truancy and late coming of students to school.
According to Mrs. Udi, all these challenges, it is not possible for the government to do all alone and therefore appealed to other agencies, parents, philanthropic organizations and the old students of the great school to tackle these challenges facing the school. She said, the school management and teachers are not resting in on their oars as they are doing their best to curb the excesses of the students in the areas of truancy and lateness to school.
According to her, to ensure that the students are not left idle because of the absence of teachers, the school has engaged some teachers who are on the pay roll of the school’s Parents-Teachers’ Association (PTA) saying, such teachers are paid from the PTA’s fund just as she said, part of it(fund) is used to maintain some facilities in the school.
She however said, since the PTA’s levy is paid once in a session, the money realized is barely enough to meet all these needs adding, it is against this background, their helping the school financially becomes imperative.
Mrs Udi used the medium to express thanks to the guest of honour, members of staff of the school, and students who have worked tirelessly to make the programme a success just as she expressed gratitude to parents, the security personnel, the old students who often help the school with learning materials among others. Above all, she thanked God for the success of the programme and wish everybody a pleasant day. Others who spoke include the Chairman of the cultural festival, Mrs Eniye Okotor, the Chairman of the occasion, Rev. J.C Okoroji(Jr), PhD, Pastor, First Baptist Church Warri, Mrs. Oghale Onokohwomo, the Duputy Chief Inspector of Education, Warri South and Assistant Director, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education who represented the Chief inspector of Education, among others.
Present at the occasion were Chief Gabriel Awala, Uwangue of Warri Kingdom, Mrs Gladys Omagbemi, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers(NUT), Warri South, Captains of Education Industry, among others.
The cultural day which featured the students grouped in different tribes which were Yoruba, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Ijaw, Hausa and Igbo, celebrity dancers, melody group among others that used dance to thrill the audience, saw Igbo group emerging as overall 1st position. This was closely followed by Hausa,(2nd), Ijaw(3d), Urhobo(4th) Itsekiri(5th) while Yoruba came 6th position. The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of awards/ prizes to winners amidst cheers.