A pan students’ group from the five local government areas making up the Oro Nation in Akwa Ibom State, the Akpakip-Oro Students Union, Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua has conferred award of excellence on eminent sons and daughters of Akwa Ibom State and beyond.
The awards were conferred during the celebration of its seventh Cultural Day with the theme “Repositioning Oro for the challenges of Leadership in the 21st Century” held at the Mini Stadium of Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua amidst pomp and circumstance recently.
The 7th Oro Students cultural Day/fund Raising ceremony also featured launching of Almanac at the Mini Stadium of Akwa Ibom State
The recipients were Elder Patrick Albert, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Mrs Alice Ekpenyong, Chief Whip in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and member representing Mbo State Constituency in the House, the Rector of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Barr Israel Affia, Barr Asuquo Asuquo Okpo, a governorship aspirant for 2015 poll, Mr Udeme Nana, Head of Department of Mass Communication, Akwa Poly, Akparawa Enwono-Abasi Ituen, a journalist and Mr David Augustine, Editor-in-chief of Insight Newspaper and Mr Oliver Cromwell, National Co-coordinator of Peace on Campus Initiative (PCI) among others.
The NUJ chairman, Elder Albert was conferred with the award of “Offong Nfufak Eyo-Ufok Nwed Oro” literarily meaning King of wisdom for Oro Students in recognition of his transformational leadership and managerial capacity and overwhelming support towards Oro people and Students.
The Rector, Barr Affia was conferred with the award of Uduonyi Eyo Ufoknwed Oro meaning Hope of Oro Students in recognition of his friendly dispositions towards students and selfless services towards Oro Students and humanity.
The President-general of the Union, Comrade Anietie Esu said the cultural day was a very important event in the calendar of activities of the students and commended all the guests and students for coming out in large numbers to grace the occasion.
Comrade Esu, a final year HND Student, said the theme of the celebration being “Repositioning Oro for the challenges of Leadership in the 21st Century” was intended to raise consciousness on the need for the 2015 Governorship slot in Akwa Ibom State to be ceded to Oro for fairness and equity.
He commended Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for affirming the quest for 2015 Governorship to be zoned to Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District and appealed to the Governor and the PDP to narrow it to Oro ethnic group as was the case in 2007 when the Annang ethnic extraction was given the slot.
The President-general said the aims and objectives of the association is anchored on fostering Unity, harmony and solidarity among Oro students and others peoples as well as promote academic excellence among Oro students.
“As we come together for this ceremony, we must not forget that brotherhood is one of the legacies our forebears bequeathed to us. One lasting evidence of such is the Oro Union, in which Akpaip –Oro Students Union is it offspring,” Esu said.
In his speech, the state chairman of NUJ, Elder Albert re-echoed the need for patriotism, love and unity among the various people of Akwa Ibom State especially as we are about to enter election year.
Albert called on the students to be focussed on their studies so as to graduate in flying colours and be useful to themselves and the society.
He charged the student to avoid getting involved in cultism and dedicated the award to journalists in Akwa Ibom State as well as commended the school management for show of discipline among the students and staff.
The NUJ chairman said the agitations for the various political offices in 2015 should not be done at the detriment of the State’s unity, peace, progress and development.
Albert, who based his opinion on the background that those aspiring to state Chief executive ought to be people who hold the interest of the state above self or ethnic politics.
The chairman of the occasion, Okon Osung, an Engr, tasked the students to place their studies above worldly attractions and focus on their studies which were their main aim of coming to school to learn and graduate with good grades.
Engr Osung, who is the head of department of School of Preliminary Studies in the Polytechnic, said what other ethnic nationalities can do, Oro nation can do even better and thanked the students for promoting its cultural heritage.
Highpoint of the celebration was the coronation of the new Eti-Oro, Eke-Oro, Okpe-Oro and Akpanwa-Oro in Akwa Poly to act as the custodians of the Oro traditions and culture.
Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were Mr Okon Enidiok, the Librarian for the Polytechnic who represented the rector, Pastor Etim Enekunoh, Deputy Bursar of the Polytechnic, Elder Simon Uweh, President, Oro Union, Ikot Ekpene.
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