The call has gone out to youths to focus on their academics and gain dexterity in diverse skills in order to succeed in an increasingly complex modern world where hands-on skills and a knowledge economy thrives.

The Director of Needham International Schools, Eneka, Port Harcourt, Ernest Chapp-Jumbo made this call when the Creative Class of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Section of the school presented him with a special artwork, a photo frame, on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at the school premises.

He praised the dexterity and creative talent of the pupils for producing such exceptional artworks including the one presented to him, urging them to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge exuded by the teachers in the school to expand the scope of their knowledge and skill sets.

“Thank you, my very fine pupils. It makes me glad to receive this photo frame from your Creative Arts Class. This is a testimony to what you have learnt in school.”

“Here we don’t only develop their academic knowledge but we also develop their skills in various areas. They gave me a sample of what they have put up.”

Chapp-Jumbo, who is a retired Permanent Secretary in the Rivers State Government, encouraged the pupils “to do more, study the more, learn more; that is the way to go, that is the success route.”

Earlier, one of the pupils had informed the Director of the school that he and his colleagues developed the photo frame, among other artworks and felt it was needful to honour him with the presentation.

In attendance at the brief ceremony were the Head Teacher of the Needham International Schools (UBE); Christy Onuoha, Administrator; Favour Benjamin, and ICT Focal Person, Emem Udoeno, among others.

Needham International Schools was established in memory of a foremost educationist, administrator and former Director in the Eastern regional Government and later Rivers State Government, Needham Chapp-Jumbo.

During his lifetime, the demised Chapp-Jumbo was also instrumental to the lease agreement between Shell British Petroleum (Shell BP) and the Brown Major and Jumbo Major Chieftaincy Houses of Bonny Kingdom on the land where the Bonny Oil and Gas Terminal (BOGT) is situated today.    

Today, the school is one of the few smart schools in Rivers State with almost every aspect of the school activities accessible via digital portals. Teaching and learning activities, academic performance appraisals, parent-teacher review engagements, among other issues are optimally delivered by cutting edge technology at Needham International Schools, Eneka, Port Harcourt.

The Atlantis Press defines a smart school as “a technology based teaching-learning institution for preparing children for the Information Age”.