Ebonyi Spends N1.5bn On Schools Upgrade

The Ebonyi state government has spent over N1.5 billion on the construction of classroom blocks, hostels, perimeter fencing and repair of dilapidated infrastructure in 27 pilot boarding secondary schools across the state.

Governor Martin Elechi, who gave the hint in a goodwill message to the 2009 Homecoming and National Convention of Government Secondary School Afikpo Old Boys Association, said the project was part of effort to revitalise the boarding system and secondary education curriculum.

Elechi who was represented by the commissioner for works said, government was investing huge amounts of money in the education sector to ensure that infrastructural facilities are raised to acceptable standards in the schools.

He said that by renovating dilapidated structures in their alma mater the old boys were working to entrench the government’s policy of qualitative education in the state and enjoined others to assist in rebuilding the institutions that helped mould their careers and personality.

“Government alone cannot adequately fund education in this country. Individuals, corporate organisations and old boys associations should be encouraged to help in rebuilding our dilapidated infrastructure. The level of dilapidation of infrastructure in our schools should be a source of concern to all. To revive our education sector, emphasis should be on qualitative education and not quantitative,” he said.

Okorie, an engineer, who is also the first National Vice-President of the association, noted that the overseas scholarship policy of the government is a deliberate effort to ensure that education is brought to the door step of every family in the state.

In his welcome address, the National President of the association, Dr. Nduka Ochuba, called on the present administration in the country to remain consistent in its effort at battling infrastructural decay in the educational sector.

Enumerating some of the projects being executed by the school, Ochumba said the old boys were currently renovating the staff common room, school library and the Akabogu House, as well as providing two motorised boreholes, seats in the assembly hall and reading tables.

Delivering a paper titled “The Role of Old Boys/Alumni Association of Schools,” the Vice-Chancellor Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Prof. Boniface Egboka said old boys/alumni associations are conduits for excellence and hard work which would fight the monster of corruption that has eaten into the fabrics of society.

Egboka advocated leadership training, youth sports and all other viable activities as ways of reducing crime and other social vices among the youths, adding that the alumnus should be on the forefront of positively influencing the younger generation in achieving their ultimate goals.