Do not sever relationships no matter what - Onoja admonishes public »

Pick up your phones and call that your estranged friend. Text that person and ask of his or her wellbeing. Do not sever your relationships no matter the differences because you never know when or where you may need the other person.

That was how the Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Hon Edward Onoja began his address at his home state of Emonyoku – Ogugu in Olamaboro Local Government Area on the occasion of 2019 International Friendship Day organised by the State chapter University of Jos Alumni Association.

Represented by his Personal Assistant, Hon Raymond Rukevwe, the Chief of Staff said no society can grow without people investing trust in each other, supporting one another and encouraging peaceful coexistence.

He said even though he had had the experience of working with several ethnic groups in various parts of the country in the past, it was friendship that had grown him to the enviable height that he has achieved in life so far and enjoined the people to cherish their friends at all times.

Onoja who expressed gratitude to the alumni association for selecting Emonyoku Community as venue for this year’s event, called on members of the community, especially the students of Emonyoku Community Secondary School where the event held, to appreciate the importance of friends in their lives.

In his own paper at the occasion, Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Busari highlighted the dangers of internet fraud and described it as a threat to national development.

The police chief was represented by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Toluse Emmanuel who called on the youth especially students to use their God given talents positively, noted that internet fraud was capable of destroying their lives.

He stressed the need for them to internalise Discipline, Dedication and Determination as the three Ds of success, adding that any individual that is determined would succeed in his chosen endeavours.

The police officer said knowledge of computers, like all kinds of knowledge, was capable of making or marring anyone depending on application and emphasised positive utilisation of acquired education.

Several other speakers at the occasion also noted the need for the public to encourage unity and friendliness while eschewing all actions and utterances capable of bringing about disunity.

Insidestoryng reports that the International Day of Friendship is an initiative that follows on the proposal by UNESCO and taken up by the UN General Assembly in 1997 which defined the Culture of Peace as a set of values, attitudes, behaviours that reject violence and endeavour to prevent conflicts by addressing their root causes with a view to solving problems.

Highlights of the occasion include talks, discussions, drama skits, music and dance by the students of the school to the admiration of the guests and parents who left the event thoroughly entertained in addition to the lessons learnt from the papers presented.