OKPANAM/Nigeria: Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Patrick Ukah, has underscored the importance of reviving age grade institution for effective service delivery geared towards the upliftment of humanity.
Mr. Ukah , who stated this in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state during the 50 years anniversary celebration of Eziafa Ka Ego Age Grade in the community.
Represented by his Special Assistant, Mr. Felix Ideh, the Education Commissioner called for all hands to be on deck ensuring inclusiveness for the socioeconomic development of the community, adding that there was need for such associations to contribute their quotas for the growth of Okpanam.
The Basic and Secondary Education Commissioner, who noted that Age Grades system were traceable to the culture of the Ibo people, urged other age grades to emulate the initiative of Eziafa Ka Ego age grade association, especially for its innovative ideas .
Earlier in a welcome address, the Chairman / Patron of Eziafa Ka Ego age grace, Ogbueshi Patrick Igbonoba , said that Eziafa Ka Ego age grade comprised of those born from 1971 to 1973, adding that the group would contribute meaningfully to the growth of Okpanam community and the society at large.
In their separate remarks, the chairman of the Organising committed for the ceremony, Mr. kenneth Igbekea, Ogbueshi Iloba Nkenchor and one of the aides to the Basic and Secondary Education Commissioner, Mr. Anthony Adikankwu who is also a member of the age grade, pledged to sustain the unity and love existing among them , just as Ogbueshi Nkenchor appealed to others within the age bracket to join them to make the group more formidable.
Addressing the group earlier in a courtesy visit to him , the former patron , Obi Adimabua Ozili (JP) , emphasised the strong need for age grades to fashion out more effective ways of enhancing the growth and development of the community, saying that the future of any society belonged to the youths .
Highpoints of the ceremony were a novelty football match and presentation of items such as refrigerator, television set and fan to those that won in its raffle draw.
