The Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board Ven. Fyneface Akah was yesterday given an award (this time around by his people) as the Best Performing Chairman of Universal Basic Education Board (UBE) in the education sector of the state.

Presenting the award during a courtesy visit to the Board on behalf of His Royal Majesty Eze Weli Wodo, Eze Oha Apara, chairman of Obiri Ehie Apara Management Committee High Chief Lucky Amadi said they were at the Board to congratulate the Executive Chairman for living above board and to seek partnership with the Board in some areas.

Amadi who said Akah has made them proud however noted that there is no community in Rivers State you will go to that you will not see schools being built or renovated and so on and particularly thanked the governor of the state Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for the choice of their son as Chairman of the Board vis-a-vis the support.

Receiving the award, Ven. Akah expressed happiness for being recognised by his own people (Apara kingdom) as a result of what the Board is doing and assured them that the Board would not hesitate to partner with them where necessary.

Akah who dedicated the award to God Almighty and to the governor of Rivers State Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike said whatever achievement the Board has made was do mainly to the unalloyed support of the governor describing the governor as a leader who in diverse ways has proved his commitment and love for education, especially the basic education.

While urging his people to avail themselves of the opportunity of the ongoing Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA)programme, Akah described BESDA as a world Bank funded initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education which is aimed at eliminating the out- of - school children in Nigeria.

He therefore charged his people to support the programme by ensuring that they donate their rooms and parlors to house these children adding that the programme will also cushion the effect joblessness as many unemployed graduates will be engaged in the process.

According to the Board Chairman, Rivers State has concluded the first year of basic education and was able to access, out of the 110,000 have returned over 36.000 children to school stressing that plans are under way in the second year to bring another 54,000 children to school.

He further pointed out that BESDA is a programme that needs the support of all and has come to stay calling on Apara kingdom to support it and ensure that many centres are created in communities where none exist and thanked them for the visit.

The meeting had in attendance Board Commissioners and Director.


Chimzi Ogbonna
Special assistant on Media to the Executive chairman Rivers Universal Basic Education Board

Very good