Obagun Of Epe, Segun Raheem, Charges Teachers, Youth On Wealth Creation

By Babatunde Kaka

The Obagun of Epe Kingdom, Otunba Adesegun Raheem, has admonished teachers and youth to  ensure that they have multiple streams of income.

According to him, this will create a buffer for them in the wake of austerity and economic downturn, adding that the Nigeria’s sociopolitical and economic arrangement does not offer much protection for those with single source of income.

Otunba Raheem issued the admonition on occasion of his enthronement as Obagun of Epe Kingdom by Olu Epe Of Epe, Oba Shefiu Adewale.

The occasion also coincided with the remembrance of his beloved parents who called to glory years back.

The remembrance prayers, however, attracted the top echelon of Epe Ulamas, NUT National and State Executives, friends, colleagues and well-wishers

Speaking with Ekohotblog, the rememberance prayer organised for his parents, he said, was necessary due to the harsh economic circumstances it took his parents to make him useful for himself, his family and the society at large while they lived.

Speaking further, he was immensely appreciative of the clandestine efforts of both Oba (Dr) Shefiu Adewale and Oba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun for their unifying roles despite the perceived diversity among indigenes of Epe town.

He also dismissed the notion that there is a dichotomy in the community because there’s hardly household one won’t find both sides of the divide coexisting peacefully, a harmonious relationship which has been on for years.

Ekohotblog gathered that the hierarchy of the NUT are putting plans in place to secure the lives of students and teachers across the country in conjunction with the security apparatus in Federal and State Governments.

It was also reported that the threat of insecurity in the education sector in the north he said is due to inadequate orientation and that teaching pedagogy is the possible solution as the identity and professionalism of teachers would be checked through professional examinations like Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria, TRCN.

Moreso, he gave kudos to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for reviewing the salary scale of teachers, increasing the service year and approval of life insurance benefits These he said are morale boosters to attract the best hands into the noble profession.

” The recent insecurity challenges which have crept to schools in the North is unfortunate and could be linked to a lack of orientation of the youths there. The insurgency and the rest of it, are from youths. Nobody will be proud to be a criminal but in my thinking, it is as a result of last resort. So, if our youths are engaged and are involved and they are prepared to accept responsibility in the society through activities that would not only survive them but make them become employers of labour again, I think nobody will want to do anything else.

” The NUT hierarchy is working closely with the Federal Government and State Government to tackle the menace by pushing an overhaul of security architecture in schools. The teaching pedagogy will be revitalized to get the best into the profession. Professional examinations like TRCN will also assist in that regard. We appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for approving special salary scale for teachers on World Teachers’ Day 2020, this will encourage best hands to join the profession “, he said.

Read Also: Otunba Segun Raheem Enthroned As Obagun Of Epe Kingdom

He also urged youth and teachers to take a clue from his rise to the top by making frantic efforts to diversify their source of earning a living. This he said was necessary considering the present economic conditions in the country. He also averred that elders should engage young people by way of helping them discover their talents from a very tender age.

” You see these days, every person must be dynamic in whatever they do especially teachers because of a lot of factors, our economy inclusive. So if your focus is towards one direction, the question is that such direction may not be enough to sustain you. So, our youths must diversify in their ways of doing things and their engagements.

” Our elders should have some sense of engagements with our youths towards making sure they diversify everything within them, the instincts and talents inherent in them must be unleashed which can be done at a tender age of basic education. By that level, you will be identifying them to be able to get to the pinnacle of their career.

” I think that mine is an example, you know, I chose some of our leaders then who introduced us into so many areas including moderation of programmes, videography, theatre arts, and the rest. We widened our scope and from there, we got attention, such attention brought us this far “, he averred.

Otunba Segun Raheem was also presented with an award of excellence by NUT Epe branch Chairman, Comrade Julius Ogunleye and his Secretary, Comrade Sanni (Soso) on behalf of Army Children Senior High School for his outstanding moral and financial contributions towards the development of education.