11/05/2024
*OF JAMB AND EXCELLENCE IN OUR KIDS*
By: *Agabaidu Jideani*
This past week, many discussions and 'disputations' were woven around the performance (or lack of performance) of our children in the just concluded JAMB Examinations.
There was mass failure and many complaints about the complacency of the young ones.
Parents are mostly geared towards having their children 'excel' in a particular way...
But excellence may come in different ways and of different hues.
One does not *only* have to tame or terminate the Leopard to be acclaimed a success in the community.
Let's find out the peculiar passion of the child, provide guidance and his/her Chi being awake, the child will excel in the area of his/her passion.
It is worth noting that ... *Chinwuba Onumba* - was neither a great wrestler nor the Lord of yams... He was a deviner... *Chinua Achebe* was mostly a story teller... *Iwegbune Atabansi* (otherwise known as St. Iwene Tansi) was neither adept at wielding the machete nor piercing with the Ube... he was a perennial 'discusant' of the new religion... *Ukwujioso Mary Onyali* is imbued with swift feet but she may not have outdanced others in a festival of Opanda Ichida, but she was adept at outpacing other women all over the world...
Excellence could be found in various areas of life and in different locations and vocations.
The JAMB results may be poor but the children will excel if we demphasize this one-size-fits-all gaze and allow them to pursue their passion.
They too will excel, their Chi remaining awake to see them properly guided to locate and pursue their passion...
©️ Agabaidu Jideani
