The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr. Law Mefor, has advised students of Political Science to place greater emphasis on their academic pursuits while participating in student union activities, noting that politics and academics do not easily go hand in hand.
Dr. Mefor gave the advice when he received a delegation of the National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), led by its President, Comrade Achor Armstrong, during a courtesy visit to his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
He cautioned students against allowing union activities to interfere with their studies.
“My advice to you is to balance activism with academics so that you can graduate with at least a Second Class Upper degree. Your primary assignment in school is to prepare for the future. No employer will ask how many student union offices you held when assessing your academic performance,” he said.
The Commissioner highlighted the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo and its commitment to education and human capital development.
According to him, the state’s performance in WAEC and NECO examinations has improved significantly, rising from about 60 per cent in 2010 to over 80 per cent under the current administration.
He noted that education remains central to Governor Soludo’s vision of transforming Anambra into an “African Dubai-Taiwan-Silicon Valley.”
“Physical infrastructure must go hand in hand with human capital development. If we build a Dubai-like city but most of our youths are involved in cultism, fraud, and drug abuse, we will have achieved very little. Free education ensures that the children of keke riders and wood hewers have the same opportunities as the children of the wealthy. This is further evidence of the governor’s inclusive governance,” Mefor stated.
The Commissioner also disclosed that more than 260,000 youths in Anambra have been trained in digital skills, with the state targeting the creation of a one-million-member digital workforce in the coming years.
Speaking on politics, Mefor stressed that it should serve as a tool for resolving societal problems through dialogue rather than violence. He condemned the growing incidence of cultism in educational institutions, describing it as a destructive path that jeopardises the future of young people.
“Politics should resolve social problems without violence. However, in developing societies such as ours, we still witness too much violence. Cultism thrives on retaliation and endless cycles of conflict. During our time, cultism was viewed as a sign of weakness. Today, it has spread from tertiary institutions to secondary schools and, possibly, even primary schools,” he said.
The Commissioner urged the students to cultivate the right attitude and acquire practical skills beyond their academic disciplines.
“Everything begins and ends with attitude. If your mindset is wrong, nothing can help you. Take responsibility for your future because Nigeria will not do it for you. Study hard, balance politics with academics, and develop alternative skills.
I hold a PhD in Social Psychology, but I built my career in journalism. What you study may not necessarily be what sustains you in the future. That is why Governor Soludo introduced the 1Youth 2Skills programme to equip young people with skills for prosperity,” he added.
Dr. Mefor further assured the students of the ministry’s readiness to collaborate on strategic communication efforts for the proposed NAPSS Conference.
Earlier, NAPSS President, Comrade Achor Armstrong, explained that the conference, scheduled for next month, is aimed at demonstrating that Political Science is not merely an academic discipline but one that students actively embody and practise.
He appealed for the ministry’s support, noting that the event is expected to attract the newly elected national president of NAPSS and delegates from across the country.
