ENCOURAGING SCHOLARSHIP AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN IBAGWA-AKA: THE FIRST STEP IS TAKEN
By Nkem Ossai
Yesterday 19th October 2025, two of our eminent Professors, Didacus Eze and Ejikemeuwa Ndubuisi, with our indefatigable President General, Dr. Patrick Onah, Hon. Nnabuike Ezeja and yours sincerely, High Chief Nkem Ossai (Odenammuo), were at the Igbo-Eze South LGA Headquarters, for the first ever seminar organized for young undergraduates and Senior Secondary School Students especially in Ibagwa-Aka. Topics discussed were as follows:
(A) DISCUSSION: FOUNDATIONAL & INSPIRATIONAL:
Proposed areas of focus for discussion
- Discovering Your Purpose and Passion Early in Life
- The Power of Mentorship: Why Every Young Person Needs a Guide
- Understanding Scholarship Opportunities: Local and International
- Building a Strong Academic Profile for Global Opportunities
(B) CAREER DEVELOPMENT & PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
1.Choosing the Right Career Path: Aligning Passion with Market Needs
- Emerging Career Fields in the 21st Century (AI, Green Economy, Digital Skills, etc.)
(C) SPECIAL FOCUS
- Choosing the Right Course: A Guide to Career Discovery
- Overcoming Peer Pressure and Staying Focused in School
- Preparing for Life After Graduation: Skills and Opportunities
This exercise will continue for a very long time. The two professors did justice to the discussions which was more of interactive sessions. In addition, the PG did what he knows how to do best; grilling the students on character, good standards of behaviour and humility. The High Chief and The Youth leader were not left out as they added voice to the beautiful and scholarly presentations of Professors Ejikemeuwa Ndubuisi and Didacus Eze.
In attendance were about one hundred and twenty (120) students drawn from secondary schools around us, namely:
- Ibagwa Girls Sec. School
- St. Thomas Aquinas Sec. School Ibagwa
- Ibagwa Boys Sec. School
- Anglican Girls Sec. School Ibagwa
There were some other students from outside our communities. We were amazed at the number of students and the enthusiasm showed.
To our utter disappointment, the students of Ibagwa Boys Secondary School were conspicuously absent. This harrowing experience points to one thing: the quest to make money quick and the prevalence of, “I can play the demon attitude of this generation.”
Special thanks to those who conceived this mind-blowing project. It’s something that all of us should encourage, support or possibly play part.
The next seminar is slated for next two months – December, 2025. Ensure your ward is involved.
