The National Orientation Agency (NOA), in collaboration with Duke’s Infant and Child Foundation, has trained teachers in Imo on ways to ensure school aged children are kept safe and properly trained for their roles as future leaders.
The training was done during a one day “training the trainers summit” for teachers with the theme “Empowering our generation NEXT leaders: Raising children to thrive and lead.
The training included lectures on practical digital safety skills for parents and teachers, emotional intelligence, recognising addiction and raising responsible children who are self aware.
Speaking during the summit, the convener, Mrs Augusta Anyanwu-Egbom said the summit was born out of the need for values reorientation for the younger generation.
Anyanwu-Egbom noted that there had been a moral decline among the youth as a result of neglect by parents who leave the training of their children to ill equipped persons.
She added that the summit was a call to nation building, through empowering teachers with skills to properly train the generation Alpha and positively shape their aspirations.
“This summit is a call to nation building; we have seen the after effects of neglect on the “gen Z’s” and we want to ensure that the next generation, which is Generation Alpha, is captured early.
“Our goal is to raise well rounded youths from their generation Alpha who will build the Nigeria we will all be proud to be her citizens.
“It is our desire that the good eggs will saturate our environment until we begin to build the nation we desire and stop our children from building the dreams of other developed countries,” she said.
The convener also added that the teachers will also be equipped to go back to their various schools and train other teachers with the knowledge gained from the summit.
Speaking at the event, the Imo State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Stellamaris Oparaugo called on parents and teachers to rethink ways of nurturing, mentoring and equiping children to confidently take their places as future leaders.
She noted that the future of Nigeria as a nation depended largely on the values and knowledge skills instilled in today’s children and equipping them to become responsible leaders and productive citizens.
She reiterated the need to shape the children by intentional guidance, inspired teaching and installing proper values.
“At NOA, we firmly believe that character, discipline, patriotism and civic responsibility must be deliberately instilled from childhood.
“A generation that thrives must be a generation that understands values, She said.
The NOA state director also commended the foundation for its “unwavering commitment to advancing child development, strengthening families and promoting quality education across Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director (ED) of the Imo state Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB), Mr Chidiebere Egbuo said the summit was a beacon of hope illuminating the paths for the next generation to achieve greatness.
The ED who was represented by the Director of UNICEF and other NGO’s at IMSUBEB, Dr Chinwe Adim, commended parents, educators and community leaders for their efforts in shaping the minds of future leaders.