DESOPADEC To Delta Students: Education Remains The Key To Success
Commission Counters Trending Narrative
THE Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has cautioned students across Delta State against subscribing to the growing social media narrative that “school is a scam,” describing the slogan as misleading and dangerous.
The warning was delivered during an enlightenment outreach programme at Orogun Grammar School in Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area, as part of the Commission’s youth reorientation initiative.
Addressing the students, the Head of Department, Community Development and Public Enlightenment (CD&PE), Mrs. Chinenye Ezonfade, represented by Mrs. Etume Okeoghene, said the phrase undermines the value of education and risks steering young people toward destructive choices.
She stressed that DESOPADEC remains committed to confronting harmful ideologies and guiding youths toward productive and meaningful pursuits through sustained engagement in schools within its mandate areas.
Education as Foundation for Development
According to the Commission, education provides structure, discipline, exposure, and opportunity — essential pillars for personal advancement and societal growth.
“No society can achieve sustainable development without an educated population,” Mrs. Okeoghene told the students, urging them not to be swayed by online trends that glamorise shortcuts to success.
She noted that while alternative career paths exist, abandoning formal education entirely could have long-term consequences for individuals and communities alike.
The outreach forms part of DESOPADEC’s broader human capital development strategy aimed at strengthening educational attainment and reducing youth restiveness in oil-producing communities.
Debate Sparks Critical Thinking
A key highlight of the programme was an interactive debate session, during which students argued both for and against the controversial slogan.
The exercise encouraged critical thinking while reinforcing the Commission’s stance that education remains indispensable. Students who excelled in the debate received gift items in recognition of their academic promise.
Beyond the debate, speakers warned against social vices such as drug abuse, cultism, prostitution, and internet fraud, describing them as common traps for youths who believe formal education is irrelevant.
They emphasised that apparent shortcuts to wealth often result in long-term setbacks, including legal troubles and lost opportunities.
School Authorities Applaud Initiative
Management of Orogun Grammar School commended DESOPADEC for selecting the institution for the sensitisation programme, expressing optimism that the campaign would positively influence students’ attitudes toward learning.
The Commission reiterated its resolve to sustain grassroots advocacy across Delta State, shaping responsible, educated, and future-ready youths capable of contributing meaningfully to their communities.
