***Clergyman Calls For Catch Them Young AT Isheagu Children’s Day Celebration
By Victor Bieni
As part of efforts to prioritize the rights of children, create safe environment for them and most importantly catch them young for christ to evolve resourceful, creative, patriotic and God fearing adults, a group under the aegis of Isheagu Christian Believers Association of Nigeria (ICBAN), today marks Children’s Day Celebration with school children in Isheagu Community, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria.
Our reporter witnessed the Children’s Day Celebration today being Monday, May 27, 2024 which took place at Mgbalamgba Primary School, Isheagu as Community Leaders, participants, wished them well, joined them to celebrate the wonders of childhood.
The event which was tagged: PATHWAY TO GREATNESS has order of activities as opening prayer were said, National Anthem were sang, followed by introduction of dignitaries, and a match pass by children; cultural dance, sense of melody, merriment and joy and refreshments as Community, Political and Religious Leaders, parents and guardians and other participants celebrated with school children at Isheagu.
The Chairman of Isheagu Christian Believers Association of Nigeria (ICBAN), Rev. T.C Nwaokolo while delivering his speech at the event stated that the essence of the celebration, program is to catch them young for Christ. He added that has been the primary objective of the event as he commended those who made the vision to be alive till date. He stated that, the history of the children’s Day Celebration in the community can be traced as far back as May 27, 2021 which was first held at Immaculate conception Catholic Church, Isheagu.
Rev Nwaokolo while commending the founding fathers of the Celebration and those who donated to make the event sustainable in 2021, 2022, 2023 and this year’s event in 2024. He noted further that the Celebration has graduated to distribution educational materials, gifts item presentation and school fees support to pupils to encourage them towards creativity.
Also, more advancement in ideas such as sports and educational development as well as scholarships to pupils and students in both Private and Public primary and secondary schools in the community are now added as part of the celebration apart from the moral and spiritual benefits with numerous sponsors from the Community. ICBAN leadership also call on well meaning indigenes if the community to give more support to advance more ideas, support disadvantaged children in the community.
In a separate interview with our reporter, the coordinator of the 2024 Isheagu Children’s Day Celebration, Pastor Mrs Ikwuadi Henrietta Ngozi stated that, the essence of the program is to gather school children from all parts of the community to celebrate them so as to give them sense of belonging like their counterparts in other places, teach the children morals, creative ideas to shun social vices in the society as she used medium to thank the participants, children commend all the Community Leaders for their immense support to the ministry and success of the program.
The event attracted over a thousand children; pupils and students at the event from different schools such as Ifite Secondary School, Isheagu, Mgbalamgba Primary School, Isheagu, Immaculate Conception Primary School, Isheagu, Saint John Anglican Nursery and Primary School, Isheagu, Is Kit Primary School, Isheagu, All Saint Nursery and Primary School, Isheagu.
The dignitaries that graced the occasion included amongst others are: Chief Barr Nath Azukaego Igbadi as Chairman of the 2024 Isheagu Children’s Day Celebration, HRM, Obi Ignatius, the Monarch of Isheagu Kingdom, Mr Emeka Babadi as father of the Isheagu 2024 Children’s Day Celebration, Mrs Grace Onyebuchi Nzeagu as Mother of the Isheagu 2924 Children’s Day Celebration, Pastor Maxwell Unosha, Special Assistant To The Governor on Special Duties, Bridget Modebe, Senior Special Assistant to The Governor On Women Mobilization, Engineer Paul Nwaokolo, Rev. Father Paul Ogonwa, Pastor Lazarus and others to mention but a few.