By Okon Ekpenyong

As part of the career-based intervention, Bridge Gate Community School (BGHS) recently welcomed a few inspiring community heroes to their school. Alphy Tongor and Zari, owners of JPS Print, and Deba Uwadiae, founder of The New Americans magazin shared their stories and experiences with BGHS students. 

It aimed to give students insight into the possibilities of entrepreneurship and how education is an essential tool for developing workforce skills. These outstanding entrepreneurs shared their unique stories about their culture, upbringing, and paths to entrepreneurship. They highlighted how education plays an essential role in fostering workforce development skills. 

Alpha Tonger and Zari spoke about their culture and upbringing and the path they took to become entrepreneurs. They discussed the importance of hard work and dedication and how their experiences have shaped them as business owners. 

They spoke about their journey of starting JPS Print. They demonstrated how their business has grown over the years and the impact that it has had on their local community. They emphasized the importance of embracing diversity and the value of collaboration to be successful.

“It was great, and we are planning on partnering more with the school for future community engagement events,” said Tongor. 

Deba Uwadiae shared his inspiring story of becoming the founder of The New Americans magazine. He discussed the importance of education and writing and how it can help students become successful entrepreneurs in today’s evolving world. Deba also highlighted the importance of giving back to the community and how the students can use their platform to make a difference.

Deba Uwadiae also provided valuable advice to students interested in journalism and mass communication. He suggested they set up a press club as a foundation for journalism practice and write the news or the story as interesting as possible. It should include details regarding what occurred, when it occurred, who was involved, where it occurred, and how it happened.

Deba Uwadiae shared his story of immigrating to America, which resonated with the students because around 85% of the student body had immigrant parents. He wanted to highlight the importance of education and how it can open up many opportunities for personal success. He urged students never to underestimate the value of learning and encouraged them to develop their skills and knowledge to enable them to succeed. 

Overall, this Community Hero Visit was incredibly beneficial for the students at BGHS. It gave them a unique opportunity to connect with successful entrepreneurs and learn about their journeys. It also served as a reminder that education can be a powerful tool for workforce development and open up a world of possibilities. It also gave them a unique insight into the importance of learning and staying engaged in their studies and how it can help them achieve their goals and aspirations.

“Alpha and Deba came into our school to enlighten the kids on what it takes to start a business and provide general knowledge on the next steps in their lives. They gave valuable, relevant information to the students. The students were engaged, answered questions, and took an interest in the subject. The students gained something from this experience that they will take with them as they decide what to do after high school,” said teacher Mrs Sarah Smith.

“It was fun; they wanted us to figure out what we wanted to be in life,” said Shawn of Columbus.

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