Education has been identified as a panacea for effective leadership.

A motivational speaker and Church leader, Edafe Ikoko, made this assertion in a keynote address at the grand finale of a quiz competiton for primary and secondary schools in Okrika and Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

Ikoko, who was speaking on the theme, Educate a Child, Liberate the Nation, said one’s level of development determines his effectiveness in his chosen field and shapes his future.

He advised them to make the right choices through learning and be motivated by the most important things in their lives.

In his welcome address, the President of DHA, Nedd Tamuno, said this year’s quiz competiton which held at Government Secondary School, Ogu, was the fifth edition since the inception of the association five years ago, saying that the group was laying a foundation for the youths.

He told the students, “your future and your hope are tied to your education”, adding that the theme was chosen based on divine inspiration to teach them the principles needed for success.

This he said  would aid them in breaking cultural and traditional bias at an early age.

He used the oppourtunity to express appreciation to well-meaning individuals and corporate organisations that have donated towards the success of programme for the past five years.

In an exhortation, curate of St Martin’s Anglican Church Ogu, Diocese of Okrika, Rev. T.K. Daka, enjoined the pupils, and students to eschew social and moral vices and to have the fear God in them to be able to judge between good and evil.

Also speaking, this year’s award recipient, chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Dame Maureen Tamuno who was represented by the Chairman’s Office manager, Mrs Tamuanoimana Wosely, thanked DHA for the honour done her and charged the pupils to have a plan for their future and pull out all elements of laziness, while the State Secretary, People’s Democratic Party, Adokiye Oruwari, represented by Dr Joel Augustus–Daddie, charged them not to limit their quest for excellence and work hard for a better future.

Highlight was the presentation of awards and gifts to a pupil of UNA Primary school, Ogoloma, Rachael Imabiebu for the overall best primary category and Ogbonnaya Victor of CSS Kalio Ama for the over all best in the Junior Secondary category.

Tonye Nria-Dappa