Akwa Ibom: Education commissioner lauds governor’s wife’s commitment to students

From Isaac Job, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, has expressed her appreciation to the wife of the state governor, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, for her partnership in the education sector of the state.

Etiebet, while fielding questions from newsmen on Wednesday, lauded the state governor for the payment of N79 million to four students from the state at an aviation school in Zaria, Kaduna. She added that the governor’s wife has shown similar concern for the educational advancement of Akwa Ibom students.

“Last week, Governor Umo Eno released N79 million for aviation school fees, including a transportation fare of N500,000 each, to four indigenes of the state whom he knew through a viral video that was brought to his attention by his wife.

“That singular act by the First Lady didn’t just earn those children scholarships, it saved their parents from unforeseen stress.

“Through her pet project – Golden Initiative for All (GIFA) – the Educational Advancement component, represented by the “E” in the A.R.I.S.E Agenda of Governor Umo Eno’s policy thrust, has received a great boost.”

Read also: Eno sets up health Agency board, order 6 ambulance vehicles for emergency services . 

Etiebet listed some of the educational support championed by GIFA within Governor Umo Eno’s first year in office. These include donations of educational materials such as school uniforms, sandals, books and bags to schools across the three senatorial districts.

Other support includes the release of funds to equip the library and renovate the assembly hall at Community Commercial Secondary School, Ikono Uyo, as part of her activities on the International Day of the Girl Child, and support for inter-school competitions such as debates and quizzes.

Etiebet observed that the state government alone cannot provide all the necessities for quality education for all, due to the astronomical increase in the number of children in public schools and the need to also meet other demanding social services that the government must attend to on a daily basis.

She, therefore, called for a participatory approach to education financing, which all stakeholders and corporate bodies are enjoined to emulate.

The Education Commissioner admonished all teachers and students to reciprocate the state government’s huge investment in education with dedication to duty and good grades, respectively.