Former Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Emma Okah, Esq. has awarded two years university scholarship to Master Philemon Igbokwe for returning a phone forgotten in the washroom by a wedding guest in Port Harcourt recently.
Okah announced the award during the formal presentation of the boy to the staff and students of Federal Government College, Rumuokoro in Port Harcourt where he schools.
Speaking at the event, Okah recalled how Master Philemon Igbokwe who did not have a phone proved to be a boy of integrity and high moral upbringing by refusing to steal a phone which he saw in the washroom and urged other students to emulate his God-fearing character so that they too will be celebrated and remembered for good and not evil.
“We are celebrating Philemon today because he has shown how to be a good boy of his family and an ambassador of this great school. If every student here will shun vices and behave like him, you will be decorated in honour and the sky will be your limit as I see presidents, governors, congressmen, doctors, lawyers etc in this assembly”, okah said.
According to him, those who do good write their names in gold and Heaven is proud of them while the bad ones are shamed and embarrassed as even the devil will deny them when God calls. He announced that in addition to the earlier cash gifts to the boy, a good spirited man Engr Bola Balogun has also donated an android phone to Master Philemon Igbokwe in appreciation of his rare behaviour.
Okah said Nigeria is going through a difficult time of moral decay and searching for role models in the moulds of Master Philemon Igbokwe to heal the land. His exemplary behaviour gives hope for a better future for our youths and country at large.
Presenting Master Philemon Igbokwe to the staff and students, the Principal of Federal Government College, Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt, Mrs Inyang Ukpe, poured encomiums on him and described him as a good ambassador of the school and urged other students to emulate his good conduct and live an upright life as a pathway to success. He thanked Okah for championing the cause of the boy since the event took place and prayed for those who have donated to support the boy’s education.
Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government Colleges Old Students Association, the National Welfare Officer Mr Orevaogene Pius congratulated Master Philemon Igbokwe for his honesty and said the Association is proud of him. He appealed to the students to shun stealing or do things that will bring disgrace to them, their families and the school. He announced a cash donation of N30,000 to him on behalf of the school’s Year 2002 graduates while the National Association has awarded scholarship to the boy for two terms in the school.
He further said the American Branch of the Association has congratulated him and will be announcing their financial package to support Master Philemon’s education. He urged the students to be of good conduct and assured that no good deed will go without a corresponding reward.
In his response, Master Philemon Igbokwe said he was grateful and humbled by the public appreciation of his returning the forgotten phone which he saw in the toilet.
“I didn’t have a phone but there is no way I would have taken another person’s thing. That is the training my mother gave to us at home” he said, while thanking those who gave him gifts since the incident happened. He promised to uphold the ideals of good conduct and be a good ambassador of the school.
Others who attended the event include his mother Mrs Ann Igbokwe, Barr Chris Woke (Registrar, Capt Elechi Amadi Polytechnic), Academic and non academic staff of the school.
