The need to build sustainable infrastructural and educational facilities by government at all levels for a successful society has been harped on.
The immediate past Senate President, Senator Dr. Bukola Saraki, made the call on Friday 19th March 2021, during the commissioning of Government Primary School, Junior Staff Quarter, Asaba, built by the Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration in Delta State.
According to him, every successful society have invested immensely in education.
Hear him: “The building of this school shows his commitment to human capital development. Successful societies have shown that it is those societies that have invested in education that have come to become very successful”.
Applauding the state governor and former colleague at the Hallowed Chamber of the National Assembly (NAAS), Dr. Saraki, said he was not surprised at the level of infrastructural development Dr. Okowa, has brought as governor of the state following his antecedents while in the Senate.
“What you are seeing here, is also a manifestation of the success of which your administration has done to transform Asaba, because if not, there will be no such demands. When the state was created, it is more of a capital city but today, if you go round, it is becoming a very viable and vibrant commercial city.
“These are what you can tell, touch and feel to know that the government and the governor is performing. This is what the future of Nigeria will depend on if we have infrastructures”, he stressed.
He called on teachers, staff and students of the school to keep and maintain the Infrastructures for others who are coming behind.
“For the students and teachers the only gift you can give is to see that you continue to keep and maintain the Infrastructures”, he added.
In his remarks, the elated State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who expressed joy and satisfaction over the successful completion and commissioning of the school, disclosed that the increasing population in the state capital informed the desire to build primary school to meet the yearnings of the people.
Said he: “I am glad that we are here to truly Commission the Government Primary School, Junior Staff Quarter Asaba.
“We are under pressure to build more primary and secondary schools in the state capital because of the population explosion. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough lands in the main town but we will continue to see that every little space that we have that can conveniently take a proper school in order to provide public institutions for our teeming people because not everybody can afford payment for private schools or in the mission schools.
Aligning with the former Senate President, on maintenance of infrastructures, Okowa said: “And I hope that we will continue to keep and maintain the facilities in this school. I just hope and pray that the teachers will be able to teach their students and that there is discipline among the students and staff of the school so that we are able to bring up good children from this school.
He assured that government would continue to provide institutions for pupils and students to enable them learn.
On his part, the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Patrick Ukah, revealed that the idea of building more schools came from school the Education Summit held in the State in 2016.
His words: “The school was founded in September 2019, the establishment of this primary school was conceptualized during the 2016 Education Summit that was organized by the state government to help in repositioning education in the state.
“Amongs other resolutions of the education Summit was the need to give quality education to children in terms of building schools and educational facilities in that improving teaching and learning in a child-friendly environment”.
According to him, the school comprised 19 classrooms, headteachers office, staff room, school field, overhead tank, solar powered borehole, toilets and wash hand basins at strategic locations in the school, fence, gate and security house.
“The school has a capacity for 760 pupils at an average of 40 pupils per classroom. It may also interest us to know that currently the school enrolment figure is about 300 pupils, therefore, there is enough classrooms to accommodate more pupils in future”, the Basic and Secondary Education Commissioner hinted.
Also, Chairman, Oshimili south local government area, Kelvin Ezenyili, said: “What we are experiencing today is the drive of his Excellency to prove his love for education. This will enable the people living around here to have access to education”, he noted.
