Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) school chess game for safer school/community has been flagged off at Micheal Okapra Auditorium, Umuahia, Abia State on Thursday, 15th October, 2020.
The event which will birth the formation of chess club in all the secondary schools across the country had in attendance, the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD, other political dignitaries, Commissioner of Police, Abia state and students from selected schools from across the state.
In His Speech, Governor Ikpeazu enjoined the students to play the game and allow the lessons of game manifest in their lives.
“As you are playing this, i will like you to learn from the game. i will like you to open your mind and your game so that the lessons of this game will be applied in your day to day life and in everything you do.”
The Governor who was represented by the commissioner for Homeland security, Hon. Prince Dan Okoli also assured of the continues support of the state Government.
Sir. Don Ubani, the Deputy Chief of Staff, government House, Abia State who represented the deputy Governor said the IGP is futuristic in his thought of POCACOV because the initiative will cub the menace of cultism and also thanked the IGP for the initiative.
The Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji who was represented Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu reiterated the commitment of the Assembly in fighting Cultism in the state.
He also disclosed that a bill on anti cultism has passed its first reading in the House and will be passed as fast as possible to compliment the efforts of POCACOV. He also assured of the readiness of the House to Support POCACOV in any way possible.
The Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Janet Agbede, said that “the choice of Chess is strategic one as the force is striving to change the thinking pattern of our youths towards the positive direction.
CP Agbede who was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, DCP Saliu Sani said that the command is leaving no stone unturned in chasing the menace out out of the state
The Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Chief Emeka Ikwuagwu applauded the Chess game approach which he said translates into “proactive policing” as it will nip the problem on the bud.
The Commissioner represented by one of the Directors in the Ministry said that their ministry will continue to collaborate with the police and thanked the IGP for the initiative which will catch the children young.
Presenting the objectives of the POCACOV school chess game across the federation, the National Coordinator, POCACOV, Csp Ebere Amaraizu stated that the POCACOV school chess game is a POCACOV volunteer club programme of safer school/community and will enhance peace building and community safety.
According to him, “POCACOV school chess game is used as a platform to deepen POCACOV campaign against cultism and other vices and police-public relationship.
“POCACOV school chess game will serve as a platform for reorientation, mentoring of students to become not just a chess player but a strategic and creative leaders and finally a champion
“Through the POCACOV school chess game, strategic leadership direction will be given to Nigerian children and youths thus presenting them as a strategic and creative leaders with spirits of sportsmanship.
Speaking on the sustenance of the initiative, Amaraizu said; “The POCACOV school chess game will be sustained with the POCACOV school chess game clubs for each state just as we are doing and getting them today. Through the POCACOV school chess game, we catch them young and save them from the claws of cultism and other vices
The National Coordinator also thanked the IGP ADAMU for approving Abia state as a take off state for the flag off just as state government functionaries thanked the IGP for the choice of Abia state for the flag off and take off of POCACOV school chess clubs.
In his goodwill message, Deacon Buchi congratulated Police IG for the timely initiative. He also thanked the government and people of Abia state for hosting the flag off.
High point of the event was the presentation of Chess Board to the selected schools that participated in the flag off
