AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE — In a fiery address that shook stakeholders to their core, Anambra First Lady Mrs. Nonye Soludo launched a scathing critique of societal failures, declaring “moral bankruptcy” and “parental negligence” as time bombs destroying Nigeria’s future.
The governor’s wife, founder of Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, delivered the blistering keynote at a high-stakes education congress organized by the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) on Tuesday, sponsored by banking giants Fidelity Bank and Zenith Bank.
Held at the International Convention Centre, Awka, the explosive summit themed “Moral Regeneration and Value Reorientation at the Basic Education Level” saw Mrs. Soludo tear into parents, teachers, and leaders for “legalizing malpractice” and breeding a generation addicted to shortcuts.
“Our society derailed,” thundered the First Lady, revealing her administration’s aggressive push to slash out-of-school children rates, already Nigeria’s lowest to “near zero.” “Moral regeneration became popular because we failed catastrophically. Parents abandoned duties, families shattered sacred bonds, and even our churches turned blind eyes to atrocities!”
Drawing gasps, she challenged attendees: “Do we still ask: ‘What’s your source of income?’ or ‘Who are your parents?’ Academic excellence is now a commodity sold to the highest bidder. Success through fraud? We taught this!”
In a chilling warning, Mrs. Soludo exposed cultism and drug abuse infiltrating primary schools. “The storm is raging! If we don’t act, this chaos will explode!” she warned, urging parents to “spy on children’s friends, dine with them, become their confidants.”
“Are you proud of the life you model?” she demanded, slamming educators for eroding guidance counseling. “Teachers, do you even believe your own lessons? We’re handing kids certificates, not character!”
Backing her stark claims, ASUBEB Chairman Dr. Vera Nwadinobi issued a dire prophecy: “Without morals, we’ll get engineers building collapsed bridges, murderous doctors, and kleptomaniac leaders!” She blasted rampant exam fraud and certificate sales, urging stakeholders to “rescue education from hollow credentials.
Amid the tension, Mrs. Soludo lightened the mood by awarding brand-new HP laptops to teachers who succeeded in their ICT examinations!
The First Lady, introducing herself as “a mother of six, daughter of a teacher, wife to an exceptional teacher,” indicted every tier of society. “A child’s upbringing isn’t just parents’ job, it takes a community! But where’s that community today? A badly raised child becomes a community’s nightmare!”
“Education alone can’t fix this,” Mrs. Soludo concluded. “If families spew poison, schools can’t detoxify it. We’re all guilty now! Let’s fight or perish!”
The summit drew heavyweights including wife of the deputy governor, Lady Oluchi Ibezim, Head of Service, Theodora Igwegbe, Chairman, PPSSC, Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, Chairman House Committee on Education, Hon. Anayo Okpale, ASUBEB Board Members, Directors and Zonal Directors, Traditional Rulers, Chairman of the Occassion Represented by Prof Frank Collins Okafor, The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr Ify Abaezi, Our partners; Obi Jackson, Fidelity Bank Plc and Zenith Bank, Our Guest Speakers, All Principals and Head Teachers present, amongst others.
