Follow Us on Google
By Henry Uche
Abia State governor, Alex Otti has charge students of the State to be intentional in choosing mentors whose lives reflect integrity, discipline, and good character; stressing that the values they embrace today will shape their future and determine the kind of leaders they become. He urged the students to shun negative influences and instead associate themselves with individuals who inspire excellence, responsibility, and ethical conduct.
The governor gave this charge during a mentorship program organized by the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria (MWFAAN), in Ikwuano seccondary school Ariam, with support from the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria.
Encouraging over 85 students who benefited from the program, the governor who was represented by his special adviser on Basic and Secondary Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, described the initiative as one that complements the his government’s education reforms.
Designed to connect students with accomplished professionals for inspiration, leadership guidance and career development, Otti encouraged the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria to partner with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to expand the mentorship initiative to more secondary schools across the state.
“You must deliberately choose mentors who embody integrity, discipline and good character. Remember, education remains the foundation for leadership and sustainable development. The government had already assessed Ikwuano Secondary School and included it in the infrastructure intervention plans”
In a remark, the Financial Secretary of MWFAAN, Irene David-Arinze, charged the students to remain steadfast as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria. She said, “Your country does not only need brilliant young people. Nigeria needs young people who are honest, courageous, compassionate and responsible.
“We need young people who will refuse to cheat even when others are cheating; young people who will protect public property rather than destroy it; young people who will speak the truth respectfully; and young people who will ask not only, ‘What can I gain?’ but also, ‘how can I contribute?”
Earlier, Daberechi Ekejiuba, a Mandela Washington Fellow, explained that the Mentorship Program is an initiative of MWFAAN, under the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), a flagship leadership program of the United States Government for emerging African leaders.
“The program is designed to identify promising young people, expose them to leadership development, civic responsibility and mentorship while helping youths understand that your background should never limit your future aspirations”
Also speaking, the association’s Publicity Secretary, James Akan, said Ikwuano Secondary School was deliberately selected because rural communities are often overlooked despite possessing enormous potential.
Akan explained that the 85 students were carefully selected to enable sustained mentorship and effective follow-up, adding that the program would expose them to technical, leadership and life skills while connecting them with mentors who would continue to guide them beyond the event. He added that bringing the program to the school would also help draw attention to its pressing infrastructural needs.
Delivering a session on The Future of Work, Igwe Uguru, Co-founder of RAD5 Tech Hub and a Mandela Washington Fellow, challenged the students to embrace technology and acquire digital skills, noting that rapid technological advancement is transforming how people learn, work and solve problems. He encouraged the students to prepare for future careers by developing relevant skills and adapting to emerging opportunities created by technological innovation.
Similarly, the Mayor of Ikwuano Local Government Area, Dr. Anthony Nzeribe Nwaubani, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Tony Echuefu, commended the Alumni Association for bringing the Program to Ikwuano. He described the initiative as a noble investment in the future of young people, noting that mentorship and quality education remain critical to community development.
“I encouraged you to remain committed to your studies, learn from your mentors and take advantage of the opportunities presented to become responsible leaders and agents of positive change” he charged.
The Principal of Ikwuano Secondary School, Mrs. Ndidi Nwangwa Rose Ezine, while appealing for infrastructural upgrade in the school described the mentorship program as the first of its kind in the school’s history, saying it gave the students a renewed sense of hope and belonging.
While acknowledging the recent deployment of additional teachers by the state government, she noted that a good academic environment will complement government’s efforts to provide qualitative foundational education to Abia State students.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Nwankwo Confidence thanked the organizers for investing in the future of the students and pledged that participants would make good use of the mentorship opportunity.
Other beneficiaries, including Ndubuisi Chidimma Anointed and Treasure Chinedu, who received awards for outstanding academic performance, described the program as inspiring and expressed gratitude to the organizers for providing them with the opportunity to learn from accomplished mentors.
