By Prince Wiro
Nigeria-Government Comprehensive Secondary School Borikiri,PortHarcourt, Old Boys Association(COBA) on Saturday,25th January held maiden edition of its annual legacy lecture series titled “Bridging Health And Education Pathways To Sustainable Development In A Changing Climate” with a call on students and the youth in the society to abstain from intake of hard drugs.
In his opening remarks,OCJ Okocha, a former President of Nigeria Bar Association and an old boy of the school, disclosed that he likes associating with anything to do with the school.
He stated that he took his O level in the school.
“We have always loved to be identified as comprehensive old boys.I thank the president of COBA for instituting the lecture and the guest lecturer who is a distinguished academician.
“I welcome everybody.It is a honour for all of us to remember we passed through the school.It is in secondary school bonds are formed with people.The lecture will stimulate our intellectual appetite and enrich our knowledge” Okocha said.
COBA President,Idaimo Richard Koko,Esq in his speech said the lecture will stimulate the thoughts of young Comprehensive students and make them take their study serious to be like some very succesful old boys.
Professor Vincent Idemyor, who grauduated from the school in 1976,who is also the guest lecturer,in his lecture titled: Bridging Health And Education Pathways To Sustainable Development In A Changing Climate said the concept of Comprehensive college started with the American Government.
Professor Idemyor asserted that sustainsble development is working towards growth and preparing for the future and it is an ethical pursuit.
The guest lecturer explained that there is seventeen sustainable development goals which is a target in terms of what we are doing.
He further explained that in Nigeria life expectancy is 55 to 77 years and about 15 to 20 million children are out of school.
“People snatch ballot boxes because money are in few hands,money is not circulationg.Something need to be done in terms of private sector.
“Health,mental,physical and social wellbeing are very important.
Health is a resource for everyday life.You cannot talk of health without nutrition.We were well feed in our days in boarding in Comprehensive and our brain was developing.
“Brain stops developing at age of 25years.Sports is part of brain development.Few of us did not want to participate in sports in our days because we thought it will not give us chance to study.Good nutrition prevents defiency and chronic diseases.
Nutrional Genomics is what counts.The goal is to use the diet to prevent or treat disease.We need to work together to tackle food insecurity.
“Students must learn life long learning skills. Emotional intelligence,leadership and mentorship skills.As a country,we have not done well interms of planning /organization
Peope who are planning for education and health must put into consideration the population growth.
“189 million nigerians are hungry.We are not doing well. One thing affecting us is issue of drugs,susbtance abuse.We must have to oppress it. 20 to 25 million nigerians are on substance.If alcohol content is included,it will be 45 million persons.
“It affects brain development,affects growth at that young age.I think boarding schools is necessary.Please students abstain from alcohol is not good for your brain.
“Dont do anything to jeopardize growth of your brain.intake of alcohol by underage persons is associated with brain damage and neurocognitive deficits with implications for learning.
“189 million Nigerians goes to bed hungry everyday.It require hard work to stop poverty.There are many holidays in Nigeria.Anybody working should put in 208 productive hours.
“Dont complain how terrible Nigeria is, we are all living here,we can change things” the guest speaker said.
Professor Joseph Ajienka in his closing remarks said it is a special day for the old boys of Comprehensive school to be holding the first legacy lecture.
“I thank the National President.We need to give back to the school and community as the school trained most today leaders.Many of the old boys have done well.We felt will should have a legacy week to celebrate the school that gave us the foundation in life.
“We need to propagate the legacy of the school that made us.We need to let the younger ones know that there is a school called comprehensive.We should find time to come back to this school to mentor the young ones,so that the school can stand the test of time” Professor Ajienka said.
Professor Aaron Ojule in his vote of thanks noted that Nigeria is poor because of lack of management of resources and corruption.
“I thank the students of comprehensive, every other members and guests for coming”
Our correspondent reports that Victoria Johnson the Principal of UBE section of Comprehensive School,Students of the school, old boys of other secondary school close to Comprehensive were all in attendance.
