[Opinion] Akwa Ibom: A Beam Of Hope

“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children”-Nelson Mandela

For a few months, i have been frequent in ‘The Land of Promise’. I visited various places, did a lot of sight-seeing, interactions with indigenes and as usual, make pals. One of which is ‘Emem’, a delectable lady and a typical symbol of African pride. Another, is a bold and fearless boy ‘Akan’. When he talks, one is amazed at his boldness and huge words, i mean ‘grammar’ coupled with that accent. You know what i am talking about. It makes me pay more attention. Really, i feel glad for this adventure.

But one key area that caught my attention are the schools. Not the building, the people. The young boys and girls who travel miles to get to the class. Although, a few of them own bicycles and bikes, at least that makes mobility easy.
However, i have heard series of the ‘Ekaette’ and ‘Okon’ stories. Just like the popularized ‘Akpors’ brand from Warri. The ‘Ekaette-Okon’ history seems to be different. While ‘Akpors’ represents a clown, a funny brand. The Ekaette-Okon brand has a slavery syndrome, the professional house girl and boy. For a very long time, it has become a ‘golden’ demeaning name. Ask anybody who needed a maid, sweeper, cleaner or someone who could handle house chores, the names ‘Ekaette’ and ‘Okon’ rings. Infact, the kids are sometimes tortured, beaten and starved by their wards. And, they are deprived of their right.

Prior to now, Akwa Ibom was ranked as one of the biggest exporters of children domestic workers. Children of school age were recruited as domestic servants in cities in Nigeria toiling day and night for their employers. This is also typical in the Nigerian movies, when certain Akwa Ibom names are given to portray domestic servants such as Udoh, Uduak, Ekaette, Okon and Akpan.

As i write, i feel excited! Why? Some may ask. The table is turned. History is made for the Akwa Ibom child. The declaration of free and compulsory education for every Akwa Ibom child from primary to secondary school is like freedom from slavery. From my observation, i noticed that majority of the children never resided in the state. The interaction with the kids showed this and shocking. All along, they were busy in another land. Now, the sign post reads, ‘COME BACK HOME, CHILD!’

One of the children, Effiong Udo (wonderful and funny kid) told me, she stayed in one of the cities in Nigeria. I asked, ‘what were you doing there?’. He replied, ‘hawking for my madam’. Hmmm…!

Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. Children are the most valuable resource, quote me anywhere. If you give them the necessary tools to succeed, they will succeed beyond their wildest dreams.
Akwa Ibom is blessed! Kudos to the courageous Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, the governor, for his pragmatic leadership and sensitivity. For the Akwa Ibom child, stigmatization is over!

So exciting is the “Akwa Ibom Child’s Pledge”, which the children recites passionately with their palm on their chest as a sign of commitment, when i asked them to:

THE AKWA IBOM CHILD’S PLEDGE
I will make it my business
To study my English Language
And master my mathematics
Thus, find my future
And own my destiny.
When this is finally done
I will celebrate my sponsor
Big Daddy, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON
HIP! HIP! HIP! HURRAY!

Honestly, i must confess, each child i encountered in these few months is like a divine appointment.
Akwa Ibom, Ayaya!

-Godwin “JESUSParroT”
Comedian.Author.Event Organiser
Twitter: @jesusparrotalks

3 COMMENTS

  1. Dis Akpabio is d greatest AkwaIbomite dat I’ve eva seen,dis is d only govt dat has truly brought transformation & d real devidence of democracy to it’s pple,he really brought hope to d hopeless & has change d course of their lives forever,these posterity wil neva forget, by these u’ve bcom d Moses of Akwaibom state.God bless u & d land of promise real gud in Jesus precious name,Amen