By Patrick Ochei
The cerebral mother of Anioma Nation and undisputable Image Maker par excellence, HRM Obi Martha Dunkwu (Omu Okpanam/Omu Anioma/Nneoha) has motivated the Fresh Students of Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, during their 2nd Orientation Programme on Tuesday, 18th April, 2023.
The Omu who was the Keynote Speaker, dazzled the Students from her entry point into the Orientation hall when she started by dancing to the music of Kizz Daniel to the admiration and loud ovation of the Students who were eagerly awaiting her arrival.
Her presentation centred on “Traditional Family Values and Raising The Next Generation of Transformational Leaders”, which she did justice to, making the University community agog with uncontrolled ovation.
Omu Dunkwu told the students not to be deceived that the future is for them to assume leadership, reminding them that they have got today as their future to take over leadership.
Quoting Victor Hugo who said that “No one can resist an idea whose time has come”, she affirmed that with the recent happenings in all strata of the Nigerian society, it is evident that the time has come for the youths of the country to take over leadership while the old should give way.
Her words, “It is your time to lead, stop buying into the deceit that you are the future leaders. Those who are making those deceitful statements started leading whilst they were youths and even on the way to their graves, they are still leading and promising you future leadership. When will the future come? After they had gone and replaced themselves with their own children?
“You have a responsibility and role to play with regards to your future. Start now. You must realise that you have enormous responsibility hanging on your shoulders. We need solution to the challenges of leadership in our dear country, and you are the solution.
“When things go wrong, leaders tend to put the blames on the youths. And I have always said NO; the youths are just victims of our ineffective and unaccountable leadership. Do you know what? They said those to make you feel bad and demoralised not to stand up for what is yours.
“But can I shock you? You need to prepare for leadership and be the shock absorber like I am, who had faced monumental challenges in leadership and as a woman. If you must be the leaders of today and even tomorrow, you just have to start preparing now. As youths, develop into the Nigeria of our dream. Don’t be like the failed men and the old order leaders who brought us to the mess we are in today in our nation’s history. Things are really bad at all levels. Values have broken down irretrievably. And leaders are still fighting and killing themselves over unearned incomes without you in mind; but when seeking for power, they come back to you to say, you are the future leaders. If you have the power to make them leaders, while not use the power for yourselves and be the leaders we have been yearning for.
“Where are those Traditional Family Values we were taught that stuck in us? Who is inculcating those sound moral and societal values in our children today? Nobody.
“My dear Nigerian students, leadership has failed you; Motherhood has failed you too. Mothers as trainers must do everything humanly possible to discipline and impart values in their children if they must attain the heights of becoming Transformational Leaders of the Next Generation. For Motherhood to fail in the child’s training circle, is the worst of virtues, and then abandonment of womanhood, is collateral damage to the entire system.
“We need the touch of women to help savage our pure and unique African values that make the male child sees the opposite sex as sister or friend as the case may be, and not an object of sexual appeal and satisfaction. The boy youths must see the girl youths as complementing them and not as competitors where they have to harness all their arsenals to have an edge always. Man is first and woman is second; everybody must play their role as morally and professionally expected, in order to produce the desired result for proper leadership and positive growth of society.
“In overseas as a student, I didn’t debase my Africanness to please anybody. I was still humble and respectful even to my teachers, to the extent that at sighting them coming, I would run to carry their suitcases.
“I am telling you this to know that there is nothing like humility. You have to be humble in all affairs of life, because humility is pregnant, it will always give birth to children. What you are will always show forth for the world to assess.
“Let me tell you our dear boys, you don’t need to join cults or do drugs to be a man. You will only destroy your life and the efforts of your parents, thereby ending up becoming a nuisance to the society.
“For the female students, I must not tell you that wearing mini skirt is bad, but don’t be the reason somebody commits rape. Choose what is decent as dress code and be the model of future mothers we are preaching about. If the future of our society must be anything to write home about, it is in your hand as a woman. The man you destroy today, you will live with tomorrow and give birth to as a mother. Can you now see that the future of humanity is in the hands of women. I beg you, be that proper woman that is able to transform into the mother of our dream – the mother that supports the husband and trains up her male and female children to be better citizens of our country”, Omu Anioma appealed.
Reacting to the Keynote speech by Omu Martha Dunkwu, the Vice Chancellor of Dennis Osadebay University, Prof. Ben Oghojafor affirmed that Omu did not just do classical justice to the topic under review but was able to flow along the moods and aspirations of the students with such a condescending ability.
According to him, Omu Anioma has remained an epitome of Knowledge, worthy of emulation by every forward looking individual.
“She has told us about the essence of our lives by telling the story of her own personal life’s experiences. We hope to consolidate on this relationship with much more time in the future.
“Omu grew up with the best of cultural values in Nigeria, and went overseas to espouse on them. Unfortunately, things are no longer as they used to be, but we must continue to inculcate that culture of decency in our children.
“We will take photographs with Her Royal Majesty for reference purposes as we continue to build a library of classic events, such as this in our university community.
In commending Omu Anioma for obliging the University community the acceptance to come speak to the students, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dennis Osadebay University, Prof. (Mrs) Joyce Ogwezi, said her joy knew no bounds as the Omu was able to make the invitation out of her very busy schedules.
Her words, “What can I say to the Mother of mothers, HRM, Obi Martha Dunkwu, the Omu Anioma/Nneoha, an amazing Woman of Beauty, Brains and raw Audacity? Thank you for allowing your children suck from your ancestral breast of nourishment, strength and wisdom. With Mr. Vice Chancellor and Her Royal Majesty in our community, our DOU Family is complete.
“One key element of our Orientation Programme is, as the name implies, getting students going in the right direction. Part of that is feeling welcomed and at home here on campus. Part is learning how to put your best foot forward regardless of your background and previous experiences.
“That sense of community is an integral part of what makes DOU special, and now, you are a part of our community, too. To our significant external third partners with the highly revered Omu Anioma, we cannot thank you all enough for choosing to join our amiable Vice Chancellor, as we begin the preliminary process of ‘academic indoctrination’ of the newest members of our community. Thank you for choosing to build with us”, Prof. Ogwezi said.
This is one Orientation Programme that will remain indelible in the memories of the students and of course, the University community for a long time to come.
There was no holds back for the Omu Anioma, as she not only told her rough and smooth story, but related with the students in a way that they should best understand the essence of life.
She expressed herself from the innermost part of her being, as usual while mentoring them, and went further to convey her message through dancing to the “Buga” dance by Kizz Daniel and “Azu Wa Gwo Agwo” dance by Ogbogu Okonji.
