New Rivers at 2: Promotion of quality education

(Nigeria) By Simeon Nwakaudu

As part of a carefully  crafted agenda to revive the decayed education sector which his administration inherited from the immediate past Amaechi administration , Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom  Wike  made key investments  in the strategic funding of key education projects and programmes across the state.

In the course of the last two years, Governor Wike has  taken profound  steps to resuscitate the education  sector  in the state. From primary to tertiary education, sustained  investments have led to marked improvements.

The administration has reintroduced boarding secondary education  in the state. This has led to the total rehabilitation and expansion of facilities at selected  schools in the three senatorial districts. 

The schools that have been  rehabilitated  are: Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Government Secondary School, Ogu, Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori  and Nyemoni Grammar School, Abonnema.

For two years, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike through the Ministry of Education  has supported over 238 secondary schools in Rivers State with science laboratory equipment and N200,000 each for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations, SSCE.

The equipment were distributed as  part of the government’s efforts to reposition education in the state.

The governor had released over N47.6 milion intervention fund as subsidy to aid the registration of students in public schools for the 2016/2017 SSCE.

Rivers State Government kicks off statewide rehabilitation of public primary schools

The rehabilitation and equipment of Primary Schools in Rivers State will take place in all 23 local government areas of the state and this project is being driven by  the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB.

Rivers State University

Through dedicated funding, well crafted policies and proactive  engagement with the university, Governor Wike has been able to fast track  development  at the Rivers State University  and stabilise the development process in the institution.

The RSU was one of the first beneficiaries of Governor Wike’s massive intervention in the education sector of the state.  In his inauguration address at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium on May 29, 2015, Governor Wike re-instated lecturers of the Rivers State University sacked by the immediate past administration in the state. The governor also  paid the outstanding  emoluments of the sacked lecturers.

The governor completed  the Dr Nabo Graham Douglas Ultra-modern  Faculty of Law building, which has enhanced the teaching  of law in the school. This faculty building  was abandoned for close to two decades.

During the 28th Convocation ceremony of the Rivers State University, Governor Wike initiated the College of Medical Sciences of the institution and flagged off the  construction of the College Building.

The RSU College of Medical Sciences has admitted her first set of students while the construction work at the College of Medical Sciences building has reached an advanced stage.

Since the last convocation on the 9th of April, 2016, Governor Wike has ensured the completion of the Faculty of Management Sciences and Faculty of Environmental Sciences buildings at the Rivers State University, making available state-of-the-art  facilities for teaching and learning at the institution.

Other facilities that have  been developed by the Wike administration include the Faculty of Technical and Science Education complex, the shopping complex.