The governor of Rivers State Chief Nyesom Wike has said that the state is poised to do more in the development of education in the state.

He stated this on Thursday April 1st 2021 during the official flag- off of the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) in Rivers State saying that the state is on course as far as the policy thrust on education is concerned.

Represented by his Deputy Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo governor Wike described education as a very strategic developmental tool and catalyst for development pointing out that in the last six years his administration has spent not less than 30% of its budget (each year) in the development of education and health and has also rehabilitated and equipped several tertiary, secondary, primary schools, vocational and technical schools across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, all in a bid to strengthen human capacity development.

While expressing happiness for the reduction of out of school children by 32% in the state, the governor said the state is not resting on its oars in order to ensure that the problem is ameliorated.

In his speech while flagging off the programme, the Minister of State for Education Barrister Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba congratulated Rivers State ably led by governor Nyesom Wike on the strides embarked upon to position the state in the rightful place for national and global competitiveness.

The minister also appreciated the works of the Federal Ministry of Education under Malam Adamu Adamu through the directives of the president Muhammadu Buhari for doing a lot in the upliftment of education in Nigeria describing education as critical to national development noting that for any country to develop, it must have a well developed educational system that equips its people and prepares them with adequate knowledge that would enable them take advantage of the 21st century economies that are knowledge driven and thanked all the stakeholders in Rivers State for supporting the programme.

Also speaking, the commissioner for education Professor Kaniye Ebeku restated the readiness of the Wike led government towards ensuring that every child in the state is given the opportunity to go to school and lauded the governor for promoting education in the state.

Earlier in his address, the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board Ven. Archdcn Fyneface Ackah said the governor of Rivers State Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has suoported the Federal Ministry of Education in driving the programme.

According to him, in November 2019 when Professor Gidado came with the first batch of the BESDA project the governor assured him that he(governor) will not interfere with funds released by the Federal Ministry of Education and till date he has never interfered as into how those funds are managed but has always received reports about the results achieved about BESDA in Rivers State.

Akah pointed out that even the unused funds the governor has never called for those funds to be applied into other effect as they are still waiting for BESDA and thanked the Federal Government for the introduction of safe guard which he said would help to a very large extent the work they are doing in the state.

The RSUBEB boss who said in Rivers State over 36,000 out of school children have been brought back to school in the 1,225 BESDA centres across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state further appealed for the release of funds to enable them tackle head on some of the challenges such as building of classrooms, provision of desks and conveniences for the children and thanked the governor for being supportive.

Goodwill messages were given by World Bank, UBEC, CSECAFA and the Rivers Council of Traditional Rulers led by its chairman HRM Dandeson Douglas Jaja Jeki V, Amayanabo of Opobo kingdom while the Commissioner Technical at the Board headquarters Wari-Senibo Cyril Hart gave the vote of thanks.

The ceremony held at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre Port Harcourt attracted dignitaries from all walks of life including stakeholders in the education sector.

RSUBEB MEDIA

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