By Avidime Jonah, Lokoja.
The member representing Okehi Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanni kekere has expressed his dissatisfaction over the deplorable state of Government Girls Unity Secondary School Oboroke in Okehi Local Government Area of the state.
Government Girls Unity School, Oboroke
Hon. Kekere who is the chairman, House Committee on Education Science and Technology was on the spot assessment at the School with his committee members to ascertain the level of infrastructural decay in the school. He noted that the college is currently under intense security threat due it’s uninhabitable nature for teaching and learning.
“The school is not conducive for teaching and learning which of course will slow down the success made in promoting girl child education” he said.
Kekere frowned at the activities of the previous administrations for neglecting the unity college stressing that, what happened in chibok, Borno state where over 200 girls were kidnapped due to lapses in security will not be entertained in the community.
He therefore called on the state government to intervene by calling the attention of the Federal Government and concerned authorities to do the needful by providing adequate security for the school, develop it infrastructures, improve on its feeding programme and recruit more qualified teachers.
In her response, the School principal, Zainab Atima expressed fear on the well-being of the girls pointing that, on several occasions, the students were faced with series of attacks from criminals.
It was discovered that, the only New building the school could boast of is the federal government e-library facility sited in the college while critical infrastructures such as roads, hostels, kitchen, classrooms, and other school facilities are in a distressing condition.
In a related development, the committee also visited the State’s College of Nursing and Midwifery Obangede.
Receiving the Committee, the acting provost of the college, Hannah Abraham hinted that the institution can only admit 50 students due to the accreditation status of the college.
She expressed delight on the committee’s visit and therefore appeal earnestly that the Committee should help convey their message to the governor to ensure the school is capable of maximizing its potentials which has not been forthcoming since it’s establishment in 1980.
In his response, the committee chairman, Hon. Sanni Kekere expressed dissatisfaction with the spate of development of the school after touring round to assess the facilities and manpower available and promised to draw the governor’s attention to it.
“Having gone round to assess the facilities and manpower available, we shall communicate our findings to the Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who is aware of the House’s oversight function and ready to work with us for immediate action”, he assured.
Earlier in the day, the Committee visited Kogi State College of Education (Technical) Kabba. The acting provost of the institution, James Adinoyi bemoaned the poor state of the college stating that the college has not been given due attention by the previous administrations. He however, recounted some of the problems confronting the smooth running of the School.
“The college is nursing about 14 departments now and some of the problems confronting the school are; lack of conducive accommodation, poor laboratory facilities, poor electricity supply, shortage of staffs, and insecurity” he said.
“The school library is well stocked with books but could only accommodate 50 students out of over 500 student during examination.
“Also, access to the school permanent site is another problem bedeviling the operations of the school as the site becomes inaccessible during the raining season.”
Adinoyi reiterated the college commitment to providing functional vocational, technical and entrepreneur education to teeming youth if enabling environment is provided.
Responding to the institution’s demands, Hon. Sanni Kekere said in accordance with section 88 of the 1999 Constitution, the committee is empowered to embark on oversight function adding that the current administration is doing everything possible to ensure transparency in running the affairs of the state and will see to the overhauling of the Education sector soon.
Areas visited by the committee are school hostels, laboratory, ICT center, auto Mobile workshop, metal workshop, electrical electronic workshop, among others.
Members of the committee that were present at the oversight function are Sunday Shigaba (bassa constituency), Jimoh omiata (yagba east) and others.
