Dr. Emmanuel Ivorgba inspires students
Published in the March 19-April 1, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Dr. Emmanuel Ivorgba, founder of the Creative Minds International Academy in Jos, Nigeria, recently visited Mount Madonna School and spoke with 11th and 12th grade students. Ivorgba was in California being honored by the Dalai Lama with an Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award.
“We were fortunate enough to get to spend the morning with him,” said Shannon Kelly, who teaches the Values in World Thought social studies class. “Emmanuel has dedicated his life to trying to create peace and goodwill in Nigeria, a country riddled with violence due to religious, political and social conflict. We found our time with him to be truly inspiring.”
Following their two-and-a half-hour conversation, students reflected on the meeting.
“It is easy to fall under the spell of dreaming the impossible, doing things that no one else has and changing the world in a massive way,” said junior Lexi Julien. “Emmanuel reminded me of what it means to be a part of humanity; we rely on one another to work together to build the world around us. Big changes do not happen all at once. Small changes create the path that leads to the final ‘hurrah,’ the great triumph that will make a difference.”
“Emmanuel believes that teaching ‘values’ is a way to improve society,” said junior Cassie Caborn. “He wants his students to have educated hearts more than anything. His goal is to help the youth in Nigeria find their purpose. He wants everyone to find fulfillment. He said, ‘If you are alive, you have a purpose.””
“One of the first things Emmanuel said that really caught my attention was: ‘Challenges are opportunities for goodness to emerge,’” said senior Preethis Balagani. “He explained the challenges that his school was going through. There are many conflicts in Nigeria that affect the decision for students to remain in school. It is harder to pay for school and it is harder to create scholarships. Through these challenges Emmanuel chooses to see the growth and opportunity for better things to happen.”
Ivorgba currently serves as executive director of the New Era Educational and Charitable Support Foundation, a Nigeria-based nonprofit empowering youths in West Africa to emerge from a life on the streets, drugs and dysfunctional families, to becoming leaders capable of helping themselves and their communities.
