adminMorris Mtisi
GUEST speakers during annual school events or occasions often share priceless motivation and words of wisdom with their audiences. Do students ever really take these speakers seriously? That is the million-dollar question. Speaking during the Alpha Institute 7th year Speech and Prize Giving day held in the Mutare Hall weeks ago, BancABC executive officer Mr Denford Ndakawambani said he was raised in a two-roomed house.
“One of the two rooms was my bedroom and the other obviously for my parents. Whenever we had visitors, they would talk and laugh into midnight but like a well-brought-up child, I would wait until the ‘Lancaster’ talks ended. Then I would carry my mobile bed (sleeping mat) back into my ‘bedroom’, roll it into position and sleep.
“I will never forget this two-roomed ordeal. It is the one that gave me the courage and motivation to work hard. Today I own two modern houses, beautiful and spacious,” revealed Mr Ndakawambani who was guest of honour at the colourful Alpha Institute Speech and Prize- Giving Day.
In typical guidance and counselling speech mode, motivating and encouraging the students to be focused and purposeful, he said he was a man who understood challenges in life.
“But the future is always bright if you remain focused and work hard,” emphasised the BancABC executive officer.
“Stay focused,” he said and it was his main message.
“We can all do something to realise our dreams. The two rooms where I was raised pushed me into courage and hard work. We can all do it. We all have 24 hours a day. Let us use the time and be careful not to waste it.
“In this life there are two groups of people: happy ones who constitute 19 percent and unhappy ones who constitute 81 percent.
“But it is what you have inside that will determine the altitude of your success. It has nothing to do with colour, creed, belief or gender,” said the guest speaker tactfully and unequivocally resorting to down-to-earth moral rearmament to the students.
“Mind your choice of friends. There are many crocodiles out there ready to devour you; to derail your plans, hopes, wishes and aspirations. Stay focused.
“Parents invest too much to take for granted. Some of you don’t like the car your parents drive, the house they live in, the shoes they wear. I didn’t like the two rooms that were my home.
“We easily forget parents are poor because they are investing large sums of money in our education,” he pointed out, adding,
“But we can all pass if we work hard, have a passion for success, have courage and sleep less. Do your parents a favour . . . please!”
He concluded his high-strung and deeply moving moral rearmament speech by appealing to students to turn to God.
“You need God to thrive. Nothing comes easy. Accomplish more, but the first port of call is God,” said the bank executive officer.
VIPs who attended the occasion were the provincial deputy education director, Mr Andrew Chigumira, and Education Officer-Informal Education, Ms Sarah Muwusha, prominent local transport business guru Tisu-Anhu Acho, Mr Gumisai Mawadzi and Mr Stephen Mutsongodza, director and owner of First Class Academy.
2014 best student of the year award went to Zandile Nyamangodo, also this year’s captain, most distinguished debater – public speaker, winner of Institute’s leadership award.
The best student of the year award is conferred on a student who has contributed the most towards the life of the institute and performed the best overall.
Online Reporter