A speech delivered by Comrade Mulade Sheriff, at the Inter-Local Government Quiz and Essay Competitions for Rural Secondary Schools in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West LGAs of Delta State

TRACKING >>The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Delta State,
The Chief Inspectors of Education in the three LGAs,
The Chairmen, NUT in the three LGAs,
Staff and Students,
All participants,
Gentlemen of the press,
Ladies and gentlemen.

I am highly honoured and elated to welcome you all to the 2019 edition of the COMRADE MULADE SHERIFF inter-local government quiz cum essay competition for rural secondary schools in Warri North, Warri South and Warri South West LGAs.

This annual competition is aimed at bridging the gap between the riverine rural schools and their urban counterparts so that the coastal schools can have a full taste of what they have been denied over time in terms of academic competition and exposure.

We want to use this opportunity to promote and sustain the existing peace among the ethnic nationalities in the communities within the three Warri LGAs, particularly Ijaw and Itsekiri people. The primary aim of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice is to promote educational awareness in the riverine rural communities, and to assist the less privileged but highly intelligent students to pursue their education and career in life through scholarship support.

The Center uses this medium to appeal to and charge the Delta State Government to pay more attention to the State’s educational sector, while multinational oil companies operating withinin the area should channel more of their Corporate Social Responsibility functions to educational development that will help to eradicate iiliteracy and reduce civil unrest in their operational areas in line with Goal 4 of the SDGs.

The importance of Education in the advancement of a nation cannot be over emphasized. Education is the back bone and the live wire of any economy. Education is the bedrock of civilization. “If you show to me any nation that is backward in development, I will show to you a nation that has less interest in the educational advancement of the people.”

If Nigeria the most populous black race in the world hope to meet up with high technological advancement as seen in other civilized Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Canada, then the Country must take education seriously.

The idea that our Children must be good educationally has been my goal. While for the government, may I appeal that we constantly work to improve the standard of education in the country as it will help to advance our children and make them different from what I witnessed in my disadvantageous past.

That education be taken seriously in the entire Delta State and by extension the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been my dream and great desire.
It is hoped that as we continue with this effort of sensitizing, promoting and creating awareness of the importance of education, through very competitive activities other well meaning Nigerians will join in this great desire to add value in the advancement of the youths through various knowledge based competitive activities that will stimulate learning.

Let me use this opportunity to sincerely congratulate the best three schools that emerged as representatives of their various schools and LGAs in this competition, and to compete with other schools in the three Warri LGAs.
Those competing today are shining examples, I challenge them to always be exemplary from now henceforth and should constantly see themselves as beacon of hopes to their mates and those below them. There are no role models in our educational system anymore. The reasons are clear schools have been corrupted and being exemplary hardly attract any reward.

I charge participants to obey the rules of the 2019 quiz cum essay competition. I pray God Almighty to guide and protect you all throughout your education pursuits.

It is worthy of note that I Comrade Mulade Sheriff was a victim of lack of education because of the challenges of riverine terrain but I want to encourage you that you can make it to the top as long you are committed to your studies. I am very committed to promoting and sustaining quality education and peace in the three Warri LGAs and Delta State at large, and I am ready to support and partner with individuals, CSOs, private and public organizations that will promote and sustain the existing peace among Itsekiri and Ijaw ethnic groups in Warri Area.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Chief Inspectors of Education of Warri North, South and South West LGAs and their staffs for their commitment and encouragement towards making the programme a reality and a success. I equally appreciate the facilitators and the panel for their roles in spite of their tight schedules.

Finally, I thank all the participting schools in the 2019 competition, all the Principals of the various schools and their staffs, as well as the host, for their support. I wish you all a great time. May God grant you all safe journeys back to your respective destinations.
God bless you.

Signed

Comrade Mulade Sheriff
National Coordinator Center For Peace and Environmental Justice.