Chanchaga local government council in Niger has distributed textbooks, school uniforms, and school bags to pupils and teachers across the 37 Local Education Authority (LEA) primary schools and some secondary schools in the LGA.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony at the Council Secretariat in Minna, at the weekend (Saturday) the Council Chairman, Hon. Aminu Yakubu Ladan said the gesture was an affirmation of the council’s commitment to building human minds needed for accelerated and sustainable socio-political and economic development of our communities.
He observed that despite the economic situation of the teachers, they usually go out of their way to improvise instructional materials to make their lessons not only interesting but also impactful, and commended them for that while assuring them of the council’s support to deliver on their mandate.
Hon. Yakubu Ladan said the gesture was the first in the series of educational materials to be distributed to public primary schools in the local government, noting that the council has in its efforts to develop education in the local government, offset tuition fees of indigent students who are in tertiary institutions.
He added that the council had paid JAMB fees for indigent applicants aspiring to gain admission to tertiary institutions, and provided educational support to some primary school teachers to boost their morale.
The Council Boss who observed that there are lots of talented kids hidden in the public schools, hilighting that the incumbent APC- led administration in Chanchaga local government council is poised at developing education in the local government, emphasizing that they cannot shoulder the responsibility alone, and solicited for the support of well meaning individuals and the state government through Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) to support the cause of education in the local government.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the Chairman of NSUBEB, Malam Muhammad Baba Ibrahim disclosed some efforts of the board towards repositioning basic education in the state, which he enumerated as remodeling some existing school structures to smart schools, effective and semi-effective schools, as well as improving teachers welfare and training.
He said basic education is the responsibility of the local government councils adding, that what Chanchaga local government was doing was waking up to its responsibility and enjoined the remaining local governments In the state to emulate Chanchaga Local Government Council.
The NSUBEB Chairman observed that the state government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of repositioning basic education alone which he said is the foundation of education, and appealed to well-meaning individuals and corporate organizations in the state to support the cause of education in Niger state.
In their separate goodwill messages, Political Adviser to the state Governor, Hon. Mohammed Nma Kolo, and the Director General of the state Urban Development Board (NUDB), Hon. Chata J.G Mohammed stressed the need to give back to the society what the society has given to them.
Nma Kolo observed that their contemporaries had enjoyed free education during their time, saying, “that if we failed to take care of the education of the younger generation, there is bound to be problem in the future”.
Also on his part, Hon. Chata who announced a donation of ₦200,000 on behalf of the Jawon Minna Forum, urged all well-meaning individuals In the council areas to support the cause of education in their respective communities and local government areas.
The chairman, Niger State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Aminu Musa, represented at the event by the state publicity secretary of the party, Hon. Musa Labaran Sarkinkaji pointed out that there would be no development without education and that all the challenges we are facing today were as a result of absent of proper education.
He disclosed that the party had resolved not to support any candidate who has no education in his manifesto, and applauded the Chairman of Chanchaga local government Council, for the bold step, while announcing the sum of ₦500,000 as the party’s support to the council for its education development.
Meanwhile, some of the highlights of the event were the symbolic distribution of the materials, which included 5,200 uniforms, 1,700 school bags, and 2,500 textbooks.
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