By Elijah Ugani
Staff under the Ogoja Zonal Directorate of Education, their counterparts in the Five Local Governments Education Authority in Northern Senatorial District as well as heads of public primary and secondary schools went to God in thanksgiving.
The thanksgiving mass was held at Holy Trinity Parish Ogboja-Ogoja, today April 26th 2026.
During the mass the Chief Celebrant and parish priest, the Very Rev Fr Felix Ovai Ekpe, charged teachers to be up and doing to save the educational system from collapse.
Speaking on the theme of his reflection, Fr Ekpe noted that “As teachers, parents and leaders, you too are shepherds. The good shepherd shows and leads the way. You have to be resilient in your pursuit of the ideals.
“I know there are times when you want to discipline or correct some of your pupils and students, some parents will want to come to your schools to confront you.
“The rate at which most children and students alike have taken to drugs, alcohol (ice) and Yahoo Yohoo calls for concern.
“Continue to be steadfast in whatever you are doing that is right. Be focused, at the end of the day, the society will be a better place for all of us”.
He commended them for the efforts made in the past and wished them a happy celebration.
Speaking during the thanksgiving mass, the Ogoja Zonal Coordinating Supervisory Directorator, Mrs Felicia Eweh, noted that “We have come here to mark our 2026 annual thanksgiving. We are grateful to God for keeping us alive and for all the things he has done for us.
“On our part, we will continue to provide the leadership that is demanded of us. We cannot mould the children the way we desire without the help and support of their parents. We urge parents to rise to the occasion so that we can build a better society as the children we are training today will tomorrow be the ones to lead and direct our affairs”.
Speaking with Theluminenews, the Principal of Government Technical College, Abakpa, Mr John Mobu, commended the CSD for her leadership style when he said “As the Chief host of this event, I happy that everyone is satisfied with the hosting as compared to what we had last year, where there were lots of complians. You can see that people ate and there is food left over.
“When we started this planning, a lot of people doubted the capacity of the CSD. We raised funds, the CDS asked the various committees to bring their proposals and once that is done, she appropriates money and everything went seemlessly”.
When asked what he will want the government to do to ease their job, Mr Mobu noted that “As the tenue of the CSD, Mrs Eweh comes to an end, we expect government to give us another CSD that will lead us with the fear of God in the footprint that Mrs Eweh has built”.
Highlight of the thanksgiving was group photograph and reception held at Government Technical College, Abakpa Assembly Hall.