Emeka Osondu
18 November 2008
Awka — As part of its drive to resuscitate its education sector, Anambra State government says it will spend N6 billion on the renovation of primary and secondary schools in various communities in the state.
Governor Peter Obi, announced this at the weekend during the fourth convocation ceremony of Nwafor Orizu College of Education. He said his administration was poised to bequeath a legacy to the people by helping them to harness their potentials through functional education.
Obi described education as the major bedrock of development but lamented that when he assumed office in March 2006, the sector was functioning at its lowest ebbs in the state as a result of neglect and inept leadership by past administrations.
He noted that even though his administration had turned around the fortunes of the education sector, through a clear vision aided by careful planning and implementation, there was still more to do in order to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
The Governor explained that through the impetus of the Anambra State Integrated Development Strategy (ANIDS), evolved by his administration to actualise the MDGs, he had already exceeded his campaign promises to the electorate.
While commending the management of Nwafor Orizu College of Education for its efforts towards improving upon what it met on ground in the school to enhance functional education, Obi announced the release of funds to the school to enable it pay outstanding salaries owed to newly engaged staff and finish the construction of one of its building projects.
Earlier in his address, interim Provost of the College, Prof. Fidelis Okafor, expressed gratitude to Governor Obi for his interest in resuscitating the school by constant interventions and funding which, according to him, had enabled the management turn around the fortunes of the institution.
He said, "On assumption of office, I was confronted with the onerous task of rehabilitating an institution ravaged by crisis and a workforce demoralized and torn apart by strife, mistrust, alienation and fear. There were hostilities between management and staff unions and college management and the Governing Council of the College. Petitions, press war, litigations, staff suspension, dismissals, kidnapping were the order of the day.
"A steadily decaying infrastructure was a common spectacle. The entire College scenario was parlous and unconducive for productive teaching, learning, academic freedom and progress. It was Your Excellency's timely intervention that saved this institution from total collapse."
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