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Asantehene urges African children to
study hard
From Kwabia Owusu-Mensah, Benin city, Nigeria
Benin city, (Nigeria), Nov. 26, GNA - Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11,
the Asantehene, has urged African children to take advantage
of educational programmes initiated by their governments and
other public spirited individuals to educate themselves in
order to turn the fortunes of the continent around.
He said it was only through education that the continent
could redeem itself from the shackles of poverty, disease,
ignorance and other socio-economic challenges that had
plagued the people.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said this when he and Mr P.J Patterson, a
former Prime Minister of Jamaica, visited the Igbinedion
Education Complex in Benin City, Nigeria.
The Asantehene was in the city to receive an honorary
doctorate degree from the Igbinedion University, Okada, the
first private university in Nigeria.
The Igbinedion Education Complex, which consists of primary,
secondary and teacher training center, was established in
1990 by Sir Dr Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of
Benin and his Jamaican wife, Charie.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu said Africa needed development and it was
only quality education that could help the children.
He said it was his passion for education that made him to
initiate a number of educational programmes to assist the
children of Ghana to attain higher education.
Among the initiatives are the establishment of an education
fund to assist poor children, provision of school
infrastructure with assistance from the World Bank and
health programmes.
The Asantehene commended Sir Dr Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion
and said his education initiatives were a monument he had
bequeathed to the present generation.
Mr P.J Patterson stressed the need for Africa children to
free themselves from mental slavery and to work hard to
build upon the sacrifices their forefathers made to free the
continent from colonialism.
He said they could do that through quality education and
discipline.
Lady Charie Igbinedion, Deputy Chairperson of the School,
said the Asantehene represented a strategic link between the
old and modern traditional institutions.
She described the Asantehene as a proactive king whose
thoughts and actions were rooted in philanthropy and general
well being of his people.
GNA
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