The relevance of education in any given society cannot be overemphasized, thus, the reasons behind the popular aphorisms of the world’s great men like Nelson Mandela who once said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which one can use to change the world.”
Any nation that must free herself from backwardness, must get its citizenry lettered to a considerable extent. It is against this backdrop that Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State, on assumption of office in 2007, embarked on a holistic facelift.
Upon this landmark achievement, especially as recorded in the Rivers State education sector, Vanguard Media Limited, publisher of Vanguard Newspapers and other titles, last weekend, honoured Rotimi Amaechi as the 2012 Vanguard Personality of the Year.
Lauding Amaechi’s success, especially in the education sector, chairman of the occasion and former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, said Governor Amaechi is not just a Governor in whom he is well pleased, but one that has been able to make a bold impression about promise and performance in a Nigerian political space that is grappling with challenges of development and good governance.
“One aspect of Amaechi’s achievement is his intervention in the education sector in his home state as he has done so much to uplift the face of education there. He has also been involved in scholarship programmes for Rivers State students, some of whom he sent to schools up North for foundational studies in the spirit of national integration. This is one way to plan for the future.”
Governor Amaechi, who recently received Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University for his service to humanity, promotion of educational advancement and good governance, argued that one should not have to receive awards for doing his job.
“There are two titles I don’t like very much; “Chief” and “Doctor.” I have always believed that if one is to receive a Doctorate, he should actually go to classes and do research work to earn it. But it was such an honour to accept such from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, even for its rich heritage alone.”
Amaechi’s giant strides in education
The Amaechi-led government, on assumption of office, declared a state of emergency on the education sector and completely took over the payment of salaries of primary and junior school teachers, thereby ensuring that education takes its rightful place in the administration. This intervention costs the state government N800 million monthly to pay the salaries of school teachers.
Amaechi, who is the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), targeted building 700 model primary schools with 500 completed each with 20 classrooms costing N3.1bn each and equipped with ICT facilities, modern libraries, science laboratories, football fields, basketball and volleyball pitches and nursery playgrounds. These model primary schools are built to the standard of the United Nations as obtainable in developed parts of the world.
It also embarked on building 24 model secondary schools across the 23 local government councils in the state; well structured and fully equipped with modern-day educational, recreation and boarding facilities with standard housing for teachers. These secondary schools have been referred to by observers as universities.
The Governor knew what his mission was as he once said: “We knew that the problem of the state was basically education, the state of our quality of education was abysmal and we knew that the quality can only improve if we take over primary education.”
The government is also currently running free primary education with free books and uniforms, provision of library and internet facilities for primary schools. The government has acquired 150 hectres of land to relocate the premier university of technology in Nigeria, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), to a bigger and better permanent site, which is expected to have facilities that will accommodate no fewer than 50,000 students.
Rivers State has been adjudged the best performing state in the education sector within the South-South zone. In recognition of this, the Federal Ministry of Education sometime ago rewarded the state with the sum of N70 million for its performance.
Amaechi has been particularly determined in the re-training of its teachers and the employment of over 13,000 extra teachers to teach in the new model schools. Also, the state has offered scholarships to over 2,000 students in Nigerian higher institutions and has spent about N5bn for her students in foreign intuitions. The state is building a world class university which, when completed, will turn out well equipped graduates that will hold their own in any field and compete with the best in the world.
Source: Vanguard
