Dickson’s Relocates COE To Sagbama

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson  has relocated the State College of Education from Okpoama in Brass local government area to Sagbama, saying that the decision was done in the best interest of the state.

The Governor stated this when Okpoama Kingdom Council of Chiefs in Brass Local Government Area of the state visited him at Government House, Yenagoa.

Governor Dickson, who was reacting to a protest letter presented to him by the people of Okpoama to relocate the teachers’ training institute back to Okpoama, said the decision was taken by government to place the college in a more strategic area where it can be easily  accessed as well as achieve its objectives within record time.

The Governor, said that soon the minimum requirement for teachers in the state will be the National Certificate of Education (NCE), explained that government is poised to ensure the commencement of academic work at the college as soon as possible.

He urged the people  to see government’s decision as one done in the interest of the people without malice, fear or favour.

He disclosed that the Maritime Academy which will take the place of the College of Education would be a world class facility where people can be trained in maritime activities.

The Governor described Okpoama as ideal for the academy project due to its strategic location, adding that the institute when fully established would play a very leading role in the training of the manpower needed in the maritime industry.

Commenting on the Nembe-Brass Road Project, which contract has been revoked Dickson said Julius Berger has been invited to do a costing of the road project and that soon government would re-award the contract to a more competent firm.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Okpoama Kingdom Council of Chiefs, Chief Wapaebinyo Amade-Obasi, said the visit was to appeal to the State Government to rescind its decision to relocate the College of Education.

According to him, the people have made so much sacrifice towards the establishment of the College noting that it had to relocate the secondary school that was in place for the purpose of the college.

He also called on the state government to complete the Nembe-Brass road to link the Brass Island to the rest of the country and the world, stressing that the people would benefit from the gesture.