From Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has reiterated his administration’s stance on delivering quality education through its A.S.S.U.R.E.D Prosperity Agenda to secure a better future for the people of the state.
Governor Diri stated this on Thursday at this year’s Annual Founders’ Day Celebration of the Government Secondary School, (GSS) Odi, featuring a lecture, dinner and a 100million Naira Fund Launch, which held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, Yenagoa.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Bayelsa governor described the theme of the event, Exploring Science and Technological Innovations for Sustainable Social and Political Development”, as apt and in line with his administration’s vision for the education sector of the state.
Senator Diri said his administration places high premium on promotion of science and technology-based education with a view to producing critical manpower to drive industrialization and sustainable economic development.
To this end, he said the state government had built and equipped more technical and vocational schools and would ensure the employment of a greater number of science teachers when it resumes the suspended teachers recruitment process.
On the recent cancellation of teachers employment, the governor explained that the exercise did not follow due process as initially directed by the state government, adding that the process would be repeated to achieve set target in the current administration’s agenda in the education sector.
His words: “As a government, we are taking deliberate measures about tuning our orientation about education towards science and technology especially in areas such as engineering and mathematics and so it is purposely driven. And we are doing that through increasing the number of science based institutions and teachers.
“We have established the teachers registration council and teachers inspectorate unit as well as the PRIME programme to monitor the performance of teachers in their classroom.”
“The state executive council approved the employment of 995 teachers to fill the needs assessment in specific areas it did not have enough teachers which include, biology chemistry, physics, mathematics and computer literacy.”
Governor Diri, who commended the GSS Odi Alumni Association, for its effort in giving back to their Alma mater, stressed the need for Odi and other alumni associations to instill moral rectitude in the younger generation.
Chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor of the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Prof. Solomon Ebobrah, emphasized the importance of bonding together as alumni and giving back to the institution that significantly contributed to who they are today in society.
Delivering the keynote lecture titled “Exploring Science and Technological Innovations (STI) for Sustainable Social and Political Development”, Prof. Franklin Osaisai, stressed the need for government and other development stakeholders to promote the growth of science and technology in Nigeria.
The Koluama-born nuclear scientist and former Director General of Nigerian Atomic Energy Commission, posited that there is a strong positive correlation between the overall development of a country and its level of advancement in science and technological innovation.
Prof Osaisai, who acknowledged the enormous natural resources of the country, noted that Nigeria’s quest for national security and sustainable development would remain a mirage with the current level of power generation and technological development.
He added that “For Nigeria to move beyond the level of a mere exporter of unprocessed primary resources to the status of an industrialized economy, power generation must be ramped up to meet both industrial and domestic needs.’
Earlier in a welcome address, the National Chairman, Government Secondary School, Odi Alumni Association, Dr Ebikisei Udisi, said proceeds from the fundraising would be used in building a new science laboratory, renovation of dilapidated structures and construction of sports facilities.
The Chief Launcher, High Chief Victor Wayles Egukawhore of De Wayles Group of Companies, who made a donation of N20m to the Association, encouraged the alumni not to relent in their effort to promote quality education in Odi and beyond.
