By Steve Oma-Ofozor
Dr (Mrs) Chinyere Elom, President of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Women Association (AE-FUNAI WA) in Ebonyi State has urged children to celebrate Christmas with modesty by avoiding social vices that could tarnish their image and bring the family to disrepute.
The Association’s President who is also the wife of the University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Oge Elom, made the statement during a Christmas party organised for staff children as well as children of the University host community over the weekend.
Declaring open the event said to be the first of its kind in the education community on December 16, 2021 she noted that Christmas was a joyous occasion given its spiritual significance to humanity saying, “Christmas spirit is better epitomised by children due to their purity and selflessness,” hence her decision to celebrate the joy of the season with them.
In this regard, the President drew her inspiration for children from Proverb 9: 9-12, which emphasises the ‘fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom.’
Invariably, a minister of God, Engr. Chukwuemeka Ekumaoko, went further to admonish the Children to grow in the fear of God as this will keep them away from evil and prayed for the children to fulfil their purpose on earth and be useful to their parents and society.
Highlights of the event include drama presentation by the pupils of the A-FUNAI Staff Children School with the theme: “Effect of Disobedience,” presentation on the activities and standard teaching and learning in the staff school and dance.
In the same vein, Father Christmas was on hand to entertain as children visited the Christmas grotto to see the infant Jesus, while they received various gifts from the President of the association.
Dr Florence Chiji Albi-Oparaocha, chairman of the Planning Committee commenting on the event believes, “The development is one of its kind and a highly welcomed development. The party was not only mearnt as a social gathering, but to feed the children physically and spiritually; thus reawakening their minds on their responsibilities to parents and society; to be good ambassadors, future leaders as well as to enable them feel belonged and loved.”
“Also, the President’s action really made the children, their parents and the entire University community very happy. The children had a feeling of importance. The joy of the occasion is still radiating in me ! I feel so glad, especially for the honour to plan and successfully execute such,” she enthused.
Concluding on the significance of the event she said, “Yes, the activity or action of the AE-FUNAI WA President in this regard is in line with the basic role of the establishment of any University, which is teaching, learning and rendering community service. This action of AE-FUNAI WA President falls in that last category.”
