Sunday Ehigiator The Director of Helmbridge Study Centre, Mr. Wilfred Dieke, has called on public and private educational institutions across Nigeria to place greater emphasis on ethical character formation alongside academic excellence, warning that the country risks producing educated individuals without the moral compass required for responsible leadership.Dieke made the call during a press conference held recently in Lagos to announce activities marking the 50th anniversary of Helmbridge Study Centre, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the ethical formation of boys from the age of eight.According to him, the year-long anniversary celebration, which began in July 2026 through till June 2027, will commemorate five decades of the institution’s commitment to nurturing ethical values while also serving as a platform to raise funds for infrastructure upgrades, including the establishment of a robotics laboratory to prepare children for the era of Artificial Intelligence.Speaking on the need for a renewed focus on character education, Dieke argued that Nigeria’s leadership challenges stem not from a shortage of educated citizens but from a deficit of principled leaders.“Nigeria’s greatest challenge today is arguably not the scarcity of educated people but the shortage of principled leaders. The country is replete with highly educated individuals who have abused public trust, undermined institutions and sacrificed the common good on the altar of personal gain,” he said.He added that academic excellence alone cannot guarantee national development if it is not supported by strong moral values.“Academic brilliance divorced from moral responsibility has often contributed to, rather than solved, national problems. It is therefore encouraging that institutions such as Helmbridge continue to insist that education must shape both the intellect and the character of the individual.”The education advocate urged policymakers, schools and parents to support an education system that develops the whole child rather than focusing solely on academic achievement.According to him, “Nigeria must prioritise an education policy which cultivates the whole person, mind, conscience and character; as knowledge without character is in itself a dangerous combination.”He noted that while technological advancement and innovation remain critical to the country’s future, they must be accompanied by ethical values capable of producing responsible citizens and leaders.As part of its golden jubilee activities, Helmbridge Study Centre plans to expand its facilities and introduce new learning resources aimed at equipping children with future-ready skills.Dieke said the anniversary campaign would include a fundraising drive to support the construction of a robotics laboratory and other infrastructural projects designed to prepare young boys for emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence.He explained that the initiative reflects the institution’s belief that future leaders must not only possess technological competence but also the ethical foundation to apply innovation responsibly.Founded as a non-profit organisation, Helmbridge Study Centre focuses on the ethical character formation of boys from the age of eight, combining academic support with leadership and values-based development programmes.Dieke expressed optimism that the institution’s continued investment in character education would contribute to raising a generation of morally upright leaders capable of driving national transformation.
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