School Adoption Program: LG Auditor General Donates Science Textbooks to 95 Public Schools in Kogi West »

…as Commissioner commends gesture, seeks more support for program

The Kogi state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology through its Adoption and Mentorship programme has distributed free Chemistry and Physics textbooks to public secondary schools in Kogi West senatorial district.

The event signaled the end of the state-wide distribution of science textbooks to schools sponsored by the Auditor General of Local Government, Alhaji Usman Ododo.

Recall that the distribution of the textbooks had been inaugurated and distributed at Okene for Central and Anyigba for the Eastern senatorial districts.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon Wemi Jones,
Who spoke at St. Augustine College, Kabba, venue of the Kogi West event appreciated governor Yahaya Bello for prioritizing education in the new direction government. He applauded Alhaji Usman Ododo for ensuring that science textbooks were enough to go round the three senatorial districts of the state and also thanked the authors of the book for painstakingly putting together an almost perfect text in Physics and Chemistry.

“I must commend Alhaji Usman Udodo for sponsoring the production of 11,000 physics and Chemistry textbooks to all the public schools in the three senatorial districts of the state this donation will go a long way in spreading knowledge across the state as part of his contributions to the mentorship and school adoption program.”

Jones said the gesture by Auditor General of Local Government was the biggest intervention since the commencement of the school adoption and mentorship programme by the government, adding that the donor, Alhaji Ododo must be applauded for going the way of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) STEM) particularly for the future of the children in the fast-changing world of technology.

He stressed that the initiative will bring about equal educational development across the state as no senatorial district was left out.

The Commissioner affirmed that governor Yahaya Bello is irreversibly committed to delivering quality education in Kogi State as no stone will be left unturned in giving the best to the people.

Wemi Jones encouraged teachers to prioritise their jobs especially in imparting knowledge to their students. “We will do everything we can to return schools to a time when teachers will be respected and revered.” he said.

In he goodwill message, the SSA to the governor on teaching regulations, Hon Deborah Alabi, charged students to take advantage of the provision made available by Alhaji Usman Ododo to make themselves better. She called on stakeholders to support the school adoption and mentorship program in order to ensure a better future for children in the state.

Earlier, their goodwill messages, the state chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Comr Ronti Ojo, and the President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr Robert Awodi, both commanded governor Yahaya Bello for his commitment and passion to the educational sector of the state and for finding in Wemi Jones, a man suitable enough to champion the mission and vision of his administration in terms of education.

They praised the Auditor General of Local Government, Alhaji Usman Ododo for his contribution in providing 11,000 textbooks, adding that the gesture will impact directly on the lives of students and the people of the state.

Ronti therefore charged the students to invest more time in their studies and reading while shunning other negative vices plaguing the youths of this present generation.

One of the co-authors of the science textbooks, Engr Yusub Ibrahim, while speaking, applauded the commissioner for education for partnering with them in the production and publication of the science texts to advance the learning capacity of students in public schools in Kogi State. He stressed the importance of science and technology particularly with the fast development of technology in the 21st century.

“We took our time to produce not just a textbook but a practical manual to help our children learn and to also master a skill particularly in the practical section of the text.”

” I encourage all the students across all the secondary schools in Kogi State to read this book; You will excel even beyond sciences.” He said.

Representing the chairman of the All Nigerian association of principals of secondary schools (Ancopss), Mr Kashim Muhammed congratulated the commissioner for education, Science and technology for the landmark program directed at lifting the standard of education in Kogi. He also commended Hon Usman Ododo for keying into the vision by donating science textbooks to all the secondary schools across the state.

Miss Oloruntoba Itunu Hannah of the Army day secondary school Lokoja who spoke on behalf of other students, expressed excitement for the kind donation from Hon Usman Udodo. She thanked the Commissioner for his steadfastness, promising that they would make maximum use of the texts to improve their understanding.

In her vote of thanks, Hon Nana The special assistant to the Governor on Vocational and informal education appreciated God almighty for a successful flag-off across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Nana called on all stakeholders to continue in their support to ensure that education is made a priority in the state and warned against the commercialization of the free textbooks.

” We must prepare our children now for the challenge ahead; To surpass these challenges, education remains the key.” She noted.