- …as Say No Campaign berths at Itam Secondary School
By Prince Efiok
ITU (CONVERSEER) – Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno PhD, has charged students in the state to stay focused on their studies, shun cultism, and other forms of social vices which can disrupt their future success.
The governor spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Ethical Orientation, Rev. Dr Osondu Ahirika, at Itam Secondary School, Obong Itam, Itu Local Government Area, as part of the ongoing statewide Say No Campaign, to sensitise pupils against cultism, drug abuse, violence, truancy, and other social vices.
It will be recalled that the SSA on Ethical Orientation kick-started the Say No Campaign at Comprehensive High School, Idu, Uruan Local Government Area on September 26, 2025, disclosing that the sensitisation would be taken to all schools across the State.
He admonished the students to shun indecent dressing, the consumption of illicit substances, truancy, cultism, rebellion against teachers/parents, and other forms of social vices, all of which he maintained could potentially derail their lives and lead to avoidable failure.
The students were reminded to focus on their academics and shun bad company as well as peer pressure, which is the sole objective for which their parents sent them to school in the first place, so they could turn out useful for themselves.
He stressed that the ability to Say No to peer pressure to do wrong is the greatest power the pupils have to maintain a dignified life, adding that nobody becomes great in life without imbibing the culture of self-discipline.
Dr Ahirika assured that Governor Umo Eno remains committed to his ARISE Agenda with educational advancement as a major thematic thrust, observing that he has invested so much in the sector by not only sustaining the free and compulsory education, but approving wardrobe allowance to teachers, building model primary schools across the State, starting a pilot model Secondary school in Ikot Abia Nsit Ubium among others.
In his reaction, the Principal of Itam Secondary School, Dr Usoro Umoren commended Governor Umo Eno for his interest in the improvement of the education sector and described the Say No Campaign as a welcome development needed to stem the rot of moral decadence in educational institutions.
