The Ibom Agenda has urged pupils to emulate two Akwa Ibom secondary school children, who attained excellence in the Stockholm Junior Water Prize Competition in Sweden.
It said parents with children in government schools should see the feat as indicative of the prospects of their children to excel, irrespective of the schools they attend.
The pupils of government-owned Northern Annang Secondary Commercial School, in Etim Ekpo Local Government – Master Iniso Edward and Miss Blessing Umoukpong – represented the country in a water competition in Sweden and took third among 42 children from across the world.
The students won the national competition in Abuja.
In a statement, the group said: “This is a salutary development coming from government run schools and may indicate the improvement in the educational sector. Where commendation should be given, we want to give it to the present administration in Akwa Ibom State.
“However, the feat should be a lesson to parents and the students of government-owned institutions that Akwa Ibom children, no matter the schools they attend, have the potential to go far only if they focus on their studies.
“While we commend Governor Udom Emmanuel for bringing the positive change that has enabled students from poor homes to have access to quality education and paying the examination fees for all students we, however, urge all parents not to misuse the opportunity and limit their aspirations.
“The lesson from Iniso and Blessing who, perhaps never dreamt of even flying in a plane in the immediate future or associating with the best in the world, is that anything is possible for any student with determination as the government has now provided the environment for all to succeed.”
“We commend Iniso and Blessing as an inspiration to all Akwa Ibomites and ask them to draw inspiration from them that all things are possible.”
The Ibom Agenda is a group that helps to articulate governance issues for the promotion of the good of the people.