THE IDEATO SENIOR STAFF FORUM HOLDS HER MAIDEN SEMINAR

The Ideato senior Staff Forum on Thursday, 3rd January, kick-started the year 2013; with her maiden
seminar. The seminar took place in the Ideato North Local Government Secretariat’s main auditorium.
The Body, comprises of all senior civ il servants of Ideato extraction, in both Ideato North and South
Local Government Areas of Imo State. Nigeria. The occasion was chaired by Dr. Emma C. Okoli, an
erudite scholar and Director, Imo State Schools Management Board, Orlu Zone 1.
In his opening remarks, the, Dr. Emma C. Okoli, made it clear that the Forum was not necessarily
established to scout for political appointments in Imo State as some insinuate, but to raise and
umbrella under which Ideato senior civil servants would gather to brain-storm on how to move Ideato
forward as well as to encourage Ideato students, both at the secondary and tertiary levels to work hard
in their academics so as to contribute meaningfully towards the development of Ideato area in
particular and Imo State in general. He decried the attitudes of most Ideato secondary school leavers,
who rather than go for higher education opted for Okada riding as well as most of the graduates of
higher institutions, who drifted into buying and selling instead of pursuing careers in the civil service;
and advised the students present not to follow such paths trodden by their predecessors.
“It is unfortunate that most of our secondary school leavers rather than go for higher education take to
Okada Riding and most of our graduates as well prefer going into buying and selling, instead of
pursuing careers in the civil service. They, by so doing, deny Ideato her places in Government”, he
said.
The Kola-nut breaking ceremony session at the occasion, was particularly spectacular. This was so
because Dr. Emma C. Okoli seized the moment to educate students present on the importance of the
Kola-nut in Igboland and modalities for presenting and breaking same when the need arises.
In a Paper, titled THE IDEATO OF MY DREAD (Udi Ochichi Ime Obodo Idedato M Na-aro Nro Ya)
presented by Chief Emma C. U. Dike (Iche Urualla) a retired secondary school Principal and Lecturer,
Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Orlu out-post; Chief Dike gave additional reasons on why
the Ideato Senior Staff Form was formed. According to him:”The Ideato Senior Staff Forum was formed
a year ago with specific objectives of creating an environment where the general philosophy of Ideato
nation here and in diaspora thrives”. He, moreover, gave an outline of what he envisions for Ideato,
Key issues in his dream are unity, being One’s brothers and sisters keeper and the need for progress in
Ideato.