Efio-Ita Nyok|9 September 2016
Yesterday 8 September was UN World Literacy Day. It's themed: 'Reading the past, writing the future'.
In Calabar the capital city of Cross River State the day was commemorated by youths under the aegis of Achievers Wisdom House and N-Dickson Foundation as led respectively by Essien Ukorebi and Nsikan Dickson.
There was a 10km Walk against Illiteracy beginning from Mary Slessor Roundabout through Marian road to IBB Junction by former Rabana; the route then negotiated to the left to U. J. Esuene Stadium through Calabar Road to Total Filling Station where she encountered a charismatic road warden who professionally managed the traffic for her to negotiate left to Mary Slessor road and terminated at Zoo Garden parking lot.
When the youthful contingent who constituted the 10Km Walk against Illiteracy, being polled from Generation for Christ (G4C), Youth Aflame International, Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) mobilised by her Students Union Government Vice President, Pamela Ofem, Canaan City Rotaract Club, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), etc arrived Zoo Garden parking lot, their termination point, to their chagrin the entire contingent discovered that the venue which was originally supposed to be the temporary centre for the Mobile School where Calabar street children were billed to be hosted had been occupied by Cross River State Mobile Court which was at the time in session and a had suspected road user defaulter standing trial.
According to the schedule of the organisers of the 10km Walk against Illiteracy, it was expected that at the end of the advocacy walk, street kids would be hosted to a Mobile School which would comprise counselling, teaching and feeding sessions. In fact, an Indomie Noodles cooking company had been stationed there waiting for the anticipated arrival of the 10km Walk against Illiteracy contingent even before the Mobile Court officials arrived the venue and asked them out unfortunately.
Thus, when they arrived with the street kids inclusive it was discovered that the contracted Indomie Noodles cooking company had deserted the venue and upon inquiry it was discovered that it officials of the Mobile Court forced them out of the venue. Both the organisers and the street children where to say the list surprised! At a point, the disappointed contingent of youths were almost barred from temporarily converging at the venue to officially disband for the day owing to perceived lame reasons from an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) who cited noise distractions, etc. It almost caused a scene but for the sound disposition of the leaders present.
The question begging for attention is between the extortion orchestrated by the Mobile Court system and the advocacy in support of literacy/education, which was supposed to be prioritised over the one by the officials of the said court especially on such an auspicious day as the United Nations international Literacy Day? Was it right for the magistrate in charge of Mary Slessor Roundabout Mobile Court which held on Thursday 8 September on UN Literacy Day to have subscribed to the absolute frustration of the said day in Calabar, Cross River State capital?
While the government of Cross River State was supposed to be reported to be encouraging education/literacy of Cross Riverians especially street children courtesy of advocacy on such an auspicious day she was understood to be stalling it. Albeit, we are calling on the government of Cross River State under the leadership of Professors Ben Ayade and Evare Esu as governor and deputy governor respectively to give education a priority in their policy formulation and execution. Stakeholders in the education sector should be encouraged through whatever beneficial logistics. Teachers and pensioners who were teachers during their active year of service who are under the local government payroll should have their salaries/pensions paid promptly. They shouldn't be owed. NGOs whose priority is education and attending to street kids should be facilitated via every known form of logistics, etc. In essence, I am calling on a sustainable investment in the educational sector both from government and non government institutions. A word is a enough for the wise.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroidhaven.org (Negroid Haven)