By Koko Udonquak
Every year, students world over gather to celebrate the International Day of Students through different actions to commemorate the Nazi-German storming of Czech universities in 1939, and the subsequent killing and sending of students to concentration camps.
This year is no exception as Akwa Ibom students on Wednesday, November 16th, under the ebullient leadership of the Special Assistant to the governor on Students Affairs, Comrade Aquilla Akpan gathered at Ibom hall to mark the day with the theme: "Students Volunteerism and Sustainable Development"
The event which also witnessed the flag-off of the Student Social Services Volunteer Scheme, attracted eminent personalities in the state and beyond including the wife of Akwa Ibom state governor Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel.
While addressing the students on the significance of the day, Mrs Emmanuel in her motherly nature advised the students on the need to shun vices such as cultism and prostitution and concentrate on their studies.
In her words " I am here to identify with you knowing full well that the future belongs to you. That future is now. If you must become a leader, then you must say no to cultism and other vices that may be detrimental to you. You don’t need to belong to a cult group in other to be a great because in Akwa Ibom State cultist are not in control but rather God is in charge." She enthused.
The governor's wife also took out time to enunciate on the need for the Girl-child to uphold her dignity by abstaining from immoral act, noting that they can become what God has preordained for them without intimate relationships. The First Lady as part of her pet-project's commitment to the students future, donated money for school fees to some financially challenged students from all the tertiary institutions in the state.
Earlier in her tone setting, the Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on student affairs, Comrade Otobong Akpan while charging students to be serious with their education, said the Student Social Volunteer Scheme is a project where students will be rendering free social services to communities in the state freely.
While commending Governor Emmanuel for his sterling leadership in the state especially in the educational sector, comrade Akpan added that the program will enable students contribute their quota to state development as part of their civic duty.
Keynote address by the Country Director, Center for Development Support Initiatives, Mrs. Mina Ogbanga who spoke on the theme of the event, stressed the need for students to think of how they can effect the needed change in the society. She also pointed out that for programs to be well articulated, it must be structured to align with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
There were goodwill messages from the immediate past commissioner for finance Mr. Akan Okon ,as well as students leaders who all thanked the governor for his giant strides in the state and encouraged the students to work towards bettering the society.
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