By: Jawa Nanna
The 2010 Tender Prince and Princess of Delta State who emerged from the recently staged children cultural festival tagged “Children the pride of Delta state’ visited Ndokwa East local government as well as H.R.H, Imegwu II, the Obi of Aboh Thursday March 11th.
This initiative, Fresh Angle reporter gathered, is the initiative of Mr. Ufuoma S. L. Okri, younger brother to famous Delta musical star, Mike Okri who composed the popular song “Time na money”. Mr. Ufuoma S. L. Okri, Chairman Folks Place International, the organizers of the competition said that the cultural fiesta started 2008. The maiden edition which was tagged Ughelii 2008 featured the 25 Local Government Areas with a Prince and Princess to represent each Local Government. Ndokwa West won the first edition of the annual competition which gave it the automatic ticket to host the second edition.
At Ndokwa East 2009 held December 9, Ndokwa East won the competition as Master Akpofure Ugochukwu and Miss Maduagwu Ishioma both of Ogene Primary School, Ashaka emerging the 2010 Tender Prince and Princess of Delta State.
The 11 years Old Ugochukwu hails from Ibedeni and is born to Mr. Nelson Akpofure, Headmaster, Beneku Primary School, Beneku, while Ishioma is from Ugilaimai, daughter of Mr. Peter Martins Maduagwu, Headmaster, Azunze Primary School, Kwale. A source told our correspondent that while the competition is geared towards the promotion of the rich cultural heritage of Delta State, the visit embarked upon by the newly crowned Prince and Princess is to seek moral and financial support as well as create financial base for the children.
In an address presented by the Tender Princess, Ishioma, she gave thanks to God for their success. She said they competed for different activities such as cultural dance, quiz, news broadcasting in our mother tongue among others and that they won despite the presence of some big private schools that represented their local government.
She appealed to H.R.H., the Obi of Aboh and the local government chairman to embrace the cultural fiesta and use their good offices to support the great organization both morally and financially. The Princess in her words termed the organization “Messiah of our time” for coming up with the festival which is affecting the children folk in the state positively.
Also, she pleaded that the Chairman of Ndokwa East and the Aboh monarch to extend their hands of support in helping them in their educational pursuit, and to also see that they give Ndokwa East 2010 a befitting hosting. She noted the task placed on them through their one year period of reign as they are to embark on a pet project on their fellow children who have special disabilities in the state. Based on this fact, she also sought their financial support to enable them carry out the project successfully.
Responding, H.R.H, Imegwu II, the Obi of Aboh expressed joy on their victory and urged their parents to pay more attention to them, even as he asked the kids to keep it up. He thanked the organizers of the competition, the Local Government Area and the parents of the children. The monarch assured them of his support both morally and financially and also urged the Local government Chairman to facilitate the programme as well as sponsor the kids.
Marveled by the key note address read by the Princess, the chairman, Ndokwa East Local Government, Hon. Elder Chike Ugwunmadu pledged his unalloyed support to them. He automatically awarded scholarship to them even though the governor has promised to do so. He started by thanking God first for the good things that are happening in his time. He declared that God will reward the organizers of the programme, “because it will open the destiny of the kids”. He further urged their parents to pray hard for them to be protected by God. The chairman gave financial support to the organizers. Folk Place International mapped out modalities as to the opening of accounts for the kids and declared that the hosting will not be equated to any other one in the state throughout the competition. He also asked the chairperson never to relent in her efforts to make the programme a success and affirmed that Ndokwa East will also win the third edition tagged Ndokwa 2010.
The parents of the Tender Prince and Princess were elated in spirit and expressed joy over the great success of their children. They thanked the organizers for having exposed the talents of their children and also thanked the chairman for his concern. According to them, “this has given us an additional responsibility on the kids” and we promised to henceforth focus more on them anywhere they go.
The Headmaster of Ogene Primary School, Ashaka, Mr. Onyekwelu Paul A.O popularly known as Ukwu stated that it is a gift from God and congratulated the chairperson and the organizers of the competition. He said “personally I could not contend myself on the day of the competition. My success was through the co-operation of my teachers. I celebrated the victory with my teachers and pupils, though most schools and local government areas were jealous. I personally have taken pains from that day to support these marvelous kids”.
The Chairman, Folks Place International, Mr. Ufuoma S.L. Okri expressed appreciation to the local government, even a he presented a merit award trophy to him. The Prince and Princess also presented the trophies won to the chairman of the Local Government. The third edition of the competition “Ndokwa East 2010” according to Okri has been slated for November 18, 2010.
No comments:
Post a Comment