Akwa Ibom First Lady Urges Good Behavior on Int’l Day of Girl Child
Female students in Akwa Ibom state are advised to eschew vices, prioritize their studies, and strive towards becoming influential women in society.
The wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor (Mrs.) Patience Umo Eno, gave the charge on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, when she paid an unscheduled visit to the Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Oku Ikono, Uyo, to mark the International Day of the Girl Child with a cross-section of female students.
The First Lady admonished the girls to honour their bodies and keep away from all immoral acts that are capable of truncating their chances of reaching their desired goals in life.
“You have to work hard and be serious with your studies. The key to the world today is education, don’t trade it for anything. Dear girl child, I am addressing you, especially today to respect yourself and your bodies. Today having declared that you are special, hold on to that. Don’t let that leave you.”
“Please use this day to address yourself by seeing yourself in a different light. As I have said, you are a special breed that is made for greatness. I want you to see yourself as such as you are being celebrated,” she noted.
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While urging the girls to sow what they intend to reap in the future, the Governor’s wife expressed optimism that among the girls were future doctors, pastors, lawyers, engineers, and architects among other notable professionals.
Amazed at how neat and well-behaved the students were, Pastor Patience Eno appreciated the principal of the school as well as the teachers for instilling in them good morals.
In her words, “If with this large population of students, you all are still this bright as I have seen, I must commend you and the teachers. You all have done nobly. God bless you and your children.”
Earlier, welcoming the Governor’s Wife to the school, the Principal of Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Oku Ikono, Uyo, Mrs. Nsebong Eyibio, thanked Pastor Patience Eno for coming to the school to celebrate the International Day with the girls, saying it has given them a huge sense of belonging and happiness.
She highlighted some of the challenges facing the school including the lack of a spacious library, well-equipped laboratory and perimeter fencing among others and called for support which the Governor’s wife gladly obliged, by making a financial donation.
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In their separate goodwill messages, the Wife of the Chairman of Uyo Local Government Council, Mrs Akaninyene Uwemedimo and the Wife of the Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Mrs Joyful Eyo applauded the Governor’s wife, Pastor Patience Umo for taking the lead to celebrate the Girl Child, particularly, for her visit to Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Oku Ikono, which they noted is in furtherance of her resolve to create a positive impact in rural communities by engaging with the students who had hitherto not had the good fortune of physical interaction with the Governor’s wife.
The girls were charged to exercise their ‘Girl Power’ while giving the acronym of a GIRL as G – Glowing, I – Intensity, R – Resilience, and L – Light to reflect the remarkable qualities, strength and potentials embedded in them.
Delivering a vote of thanks, the Senior Prefect for Girls of the School, Miss Enobong Ukpabio, thanked the Governor’s wife for visiting the school to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child with them, a historic event that will remain with the girls for a long time and encourage them to focus on setting and achieving huge goals.
Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of gift packs to the female students.
The event had in attendance the Chairman of Nsit Atai Local Government Council, Hon. Emem Ibanga, the Vice Chairman, of Uyo Local Government Council, Hon. Sylvia Ekong, teachers and students.
