Take guidance and counseling seriously: Edo Speaker urged parents, education authorities

Isaac Eranga, Benin

The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Dr. Justin Okonobo, has appealed to parents and relevant education authorities to take guidance and career counselling of the Nigerian Child seriously.

The Speaker made this appeal during a presentation of scholarship to two Edo indigent students of
Uwa model primary school, Ikhueniro in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo state, under the auspices of Honourable Elizabeth Ativie talent hunt scholarship competition. The scholarship is meant to study at Federal government unity schools.

Dr. Okonobo said with proper guidance and counseling, a pupil or student can be pointed in the right direction. He said he would not have studied medicine if he had undergone proper career counseling in his adolescent's days.

The recipients - Miss Asemota Ebiuwa (11) and Master Aibuedefe Ayevbosa (12) were the two most successful primary school pupils that participated in the first and second round of 2015/2016 National common entrance Examinations into unity schools.

The initiative begun six months ago with 450 pupils selected across the 90 primary schools in Uhunmwode Local Government Area who were enrolled and sponsored by the facilitator.

A total of 60 pupils were shortlisted out of the 200 pupils who wrote the first test, while two best pupils came top among the five pupils who participated in the final exercise which begun six months ago.

The Deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon.  Elizabeth Ativie was the facilitator of project which covers Boarding, tuition, books and other requirements, cut across ethnic and religious boundaries.

Ativie, said the move was born out of her desire to bridge the gap between schools in urban and rural areas as well as make underprivileged children especially in the rural area feel a sense of belonging.

"I am saddened by the fact that out of 60 pupils enrolled for the Examinations, only two scaled through. This is an attestation that a lot still need to be done in our Education system in the rural areas" to complement the state government intervention on Education.

Speaking during the presentation of the awards and household items to the beneficiaries pupils, the Wife of Edo state governor-elect, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, commended the sincerity of purpose of the facilitator.

She said the governor-elect, Godwin Obaseki government would consolidate on the huge investment on Education recorded by governor, Adams Oshiomhole-led government.

She also said that the government of her husband would build on what the Edo State Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mrs. Ativie has started and ensure that only indigent students are true beneficiary of government scholarship.

"We  must look  for all the good things that we are known for in Edo state and improve on them, capitalize on them, strength them so that they can live for a long time. 

"This is one such area, a laudable project one that I believe should be replicated and expended and very soon we can see how we can build on it and ensure that children  from the rural areas are given equal opportunity as those in the city, that is number one. secondly, the children from indigent families are also given the same opportunity, that is what she is doing. 

"We make sure that it is only indigent students that are given this opportunity which mean those who can afford it can afford it and those who cannot are assisted", she said.