Be good ambassadors of Nigeria, A’Ibom Gov tells outgoing students

Esther Taiwo

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom, has advised the outgoing students of Atlantic Hall, Poka in Epe, Lagos State to be good ambassadors of Nigeria wherever they find themselves.

The Governor gave the advice while addressing the 2018/2019 graduating students of the school during the 27th graduation/valedictory service held at the school hall, recently.

The unassuming governor, who came in company of his wife, was the last to speak at the event.

He was highly impressed and could not hide his filling of fulfilment with the performances of the students that he announced scholarship for one of the students already studying in one of the Ghananian universities.

While advising students to remain focused in their pursuit of academic and future career, he told them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria wherever they find themselves, saying that the country is in need of them.

He charged them to replicate what the talented youths in the advanced countries are doing to contribute to the advancement of their countries, noting that those adolescent abroad were not better than them.

He warned them to imbibe the principles of success and refrain whosoever will not contribute to their dream.

Also, with scriptural reference to buttress his point, Udom instructed the graduating students to shun “bad friends particularly those of you who will be outside the shores of this country for university education”.

He thanked the school management for instilling moral and maintaining high quality of academic discipline in the school. He also announced a donation of N10m for the proposed multipurpose hall of the school.

“Nigeria is waiting for you, don’t allow bad company, bad friends especially those of who you who will be going outside the shores of this country for university education.

Keep focus, know that whatever you’ve done up to this point is the right thing. Fear God in everything that you do. Excellence should be your watchword, discipline should be that thing you need in whatsoever that you do.

The best place to start that discipline is yourself; discipline your mind and you will yourself succeed.

“Once you have passion, nothing is impossible. I was just overwhelmed when the name came up for mention the girl who scored nine stars “A” grade in her external exams. I was full of awe.

I think Nigeria is proud of you. I’m sure wherever you go to, you’ll be an ambassador of this country. It’s always very exciting for me to know that whatever they can do there, we can do better here,” Udom said.

He told them to differentiate themselves in any university they go to, urging them to go with the right attitude, adding, “Mind you, your attitude will determine your altitude.

So, keep the right attitude, keep the discipline, have the right passion, certainly success will come”.

The Akwa Ibom State helmsman also offered scholarship worth millions of Naira to some outstanding students who performed excellently in their academics.

The students were the cynosure of all eyes at the 27th valedictory and graduation ceremony of Atlantic Hall School, Poka, Epe, Lagos State as parents, guardians, guests and staff of the school listened and cheered them when their names came up for mentioning.

The 2018/2019 graduating students were described as the best in the history of the school spanning about 30 years.

The Ghanaian university, which sent representatives to witness the boy’s graduation ceremony, also announced to the chagrin of the participants a scholarship of $40,000 to support his education because of his sterling performance in his campus.

The Managing Director, Total Nigeria Plc, Mr. Imrane Barry, who was the guest of honour, who took the graduands down the memory lane on the oil exploration activities of company among others, said their graduation was not the end but the beginning.

Represented by Mr. Gbenga Apampa, the Total MD noted that Nigeria’s challenge was not the end for the country but the beginning. He also informed the graduands that Nigeria is in need of their services and contribution to the growth of the country.

“For any nation to develop energy is powerful, energy is important, energy is a priority. Therefore, as you finish your education here today, it is not the end,” Barry posited.

He charged the students not to forget the school and those who have impacted their lives one way or the other.

“What the teachers have planted in you, what the school has tried to put into you, this is just the beginning, it is not the end. It’s going to follow you all the days of your life for you to achieve great things,” Barry added.

The MD explained that what Nigeria is generating in terms of electricity was way below capacity of the country.

He stressed that Nigeria has the potential to generate ten times what we are having today “just from the sun,” adding “we recognise this in Total. That’s why for us it’s so key to develop renewable energy.

The market needs young people like you who will decide Nigeria energy future is the base to improve Nigeria. Class of 2019, this is not the end; this is the beginning.”

The Chairman, Atlantic Hall Educational Trust Council, Trustees and Board of Governors, Mrs. Taiwo Taiwo, was full of gratitude that the institution is providing all-round education to young Nigerians and other nationalities and changing the face of private education in the country.

Feeling accomplished, she explained that the targets set 30 years ago have “been substantially achieved” while noting that the journey ahead still requires more dedication, commitment and sacrifice.

However, she promised that the management won’t rest on their oars “until we reach the stage where Atlantic Hall can be counted among one secondary school in life with the 21st century teaching and learning standard.”

She said: “Accept who you are, learn to continue, embrace the spirit of hard work, diligence and integrity and never give up on your dream.

I urge you to use all the knowledge you have gained from Atlantic Hall to make positive impact in your immediate environment and indeed, the entire world. Keep these in mind as you endeavour to be your best in your future career.

Both the outgoing head prefect, Anosike Ekenedilichukwu, who fortunately caught the governor’s attention and won his scholarship and Adeyemi Toluwani, who had outstanding result in her external exam 2018, appealed to federal and state governments to assist indigent but brilliant students, who want to further their studies but incapacitated by reason of finance, stating that when they succeed in life,

they will come back to contribute their quotas to the country’s economic development even as they plan to contribute to the solution of problems plaguing the nation in the future.

Both are science students and hope to become Information Communication Technology specialists in the future.