By Our correspondent
Mr Don Onyenji, Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism in Anambra Stare, had denied claim in some media outlets that Governor Charles Soludo has threatened to ban traditional religious unit in the state.
Onyenji said that religion was a collection of social and cultural systems that involved core belief, practice, morals, as such that the governor cannot be against such principles.
He made the clearance during a stakeholders meeting organised by the state Ministries of Education, Culture, Entertainment and Tourism in partnership with ASHOKA, Africa, a Non- for Profit Organisation on social change in Awka.
He said that Ashoka Africa was non for profit organisation, key collaborators and co leaders of the “Everyone a changemaker movement” in the South-East that infuses cultural values into education to inspire new generation of change maker, the body is in Lagos, Enugu, Abuja, Kaduna, Yola, Calabar .
Also has its presence in 95 countries with over 10,000 youth ventures in 23 African countries including Nigeria and Senegal.
Onyenji said that Soludo only called for registration of all traditional religious leaders in the state, who engages people for one form of services to another in their shrines to avoid encouragement of criminality.
“ Some people who engages in unlawful business do seek services of some native doctors to provide them with services to carry out their negative business such yahoo, kidnapping amongst others.
“The act is against the values of the state and any such shrine discovered would be legally handled,Igbo are not known for promotion idolatry or criminality,” he said.
He said that the goal of the stakeholders meeting with ASHOKA was to give right orientation to the younger generations and lead them to core values of Igbo’s which is hard work, respect and honesty .
Speaking, Prof Ngozi Chuma- Udeh, the State Commissioner for Education said that they partnered with ASHOKA because they are expert in social behavior reformation and that its services were needed in the state to ensure that our younger generation are saved from social ills learnt from public domain.
Chuma- Udeh, who was represented by Dr Ify Agbaizu, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary called on the students drawn from 10 schools across the state to pay attention to Ashoka’s presentations for their betterment.
Agbaizu said that the meeting is part of Soludo’s efforts to ensure that the state’s academic and social excellence remains indomitable.
She advised the students to be focused in their studies and ensure that they are the ones writing their examinations by themselves and will be capable of defending their grades at any level in life.
“We urge parents to train the children based on core values and beliefs of the people which includes respect, honesty, and hard work,” she said.
Mr Okechukwu Uzoechina,leader of Ashoka,said that the team is delighted to be in Anambra with “Everyone a Changemaker” vision to life through culture and education which he hopes to become a household language in Anambar.
Uzoechina said that the body is a core skillset mastered by young people, students, teachers, education stakeholders, youth leaders, adults ,organsiation and governments.
He said that Ashoka foresees an “Everyone a Changemaker” world, world where every girl,boy, woman, and man has the confidence , freedom and support to identify and design solution for the common good, tackle challenges and create a better future in both small and bold ways.
Uzoechina said that the changemaker for culture and education initiatives is a transformative journey that is designed to engage inspire and activate education and culture stakeholders in Anambra.
“Leveraging on Anambra rich cultural heritage, educational opportunities and changemaking skills, the idea will foster positive social transformations, equip young people, teachers adults with lifelong changemaking skills and mindset.
He said that expected skills to acquire includes conscious empathy-based living for the good of all, new leadership skills, open and fluid team of team and practicing changemaking.
Miss Favour Effingo said that principles of social entrepreneurs where people will have power to be a changemaker after acquiring skilks on how to be a changemaker in Anambra and anywhere they are.
Mrs Ogonna Onwuka from PPSSC, said that cultures is a totality way of living by the people and urged the audience which comprises more youths and students drawn from schools across the state to be wiser than those practicing idolatry in the name of Culture.
Onwuka said that time is apt for youths and students to shun activities alien to true Igbo culture which involves hard work, respect, and fear of doing abnormal acts like robbery, kidnapping, rape etc.
She advised the students to read their books and holdfast morals.
Some of the students in attendance said that the gathering were worth their time and appreciated Ashoka for coming to the state to share the information.
Miss Makuochukwu Umeh, the Head girl, Anglican Girls Secondary Awka, said that she is grateful to be part of the team that attended the program that she learnt from the reaching that quick money making is not a value and should not be emulated.
Umeh said that farming and craft making are other good sources of making money and been contented are good virtues worthy of emulation.
Mr Chidumebi Chinagarom from Uga Boys Secondary School in Aguata Local Government Area (LGA) said that he learnt the difference between idolatry and culture and assured that he will share the lesson with friends, schoolmates and relatives.
Nicholas Onuorah, student from St Anthony Secondary school, Ikenga, said that they expect more of the type teaching from ASHOKA because they have understood better than yesterday.
Onuorah said that it is now very clear to him that Igbo culture abhors wealth not rooted to a clean source, before now I think money can come from anywhere.
” I will key into Changemaker theory amongst my peers” he said.
Mrs Rita Enyolu, a teacher from Girls High School Uga , Aguata LGA commended the organisation for quality package to fix the young generation right and promised as a teacher to impact what she learnt to her students.
