By Stephen Adeleye.
The Kogi State Government on Tuesday, flagged off its School Adoption and Mentorship Programme to help restore the glory of education and to motivate learners for improved performance in education across the state.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at Government House Lokoja, the State Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello, said his approval for the mentorship programme was to help restore the glory of education and to motivate learners for improved performance across the state.
The Governor warned that no child of school age should be seen on the streets during school hours across the state.
Bello, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Folashade Ayoade, stressed that education remained the topmost priority of his administration.
He emphasised that it had become a crime in Kogi according to the State Education Law 2020, for any child of school age to be seen roaming about on the streets during school hours.
He enjoined parents to properly mentor their children by living by example, while urging children to make up their mind to be the best irrespective of their background.
According to him, education is the right of every child in Kogi. Education is the mother of all professions.
“It is now a crime in Kogi for any school age child to be seen on the streets during school hours.
“Being a girl child, you must do your best. Don’t because you are a girl child and not put in your best.
“We must identify the gift of God in our children, mentor them and help them grow in life,” he said.
The governor urged parents to give their girl child the best of education, saying she would make them proud and the society at large.
The SSG in her own capacity assured of her commitment to be a mentor to many students and adoption of school.
She stressed that the governor had already encouraged all the state executive council members and other political appointees to ensure full participation in the school mentorship and adoption programme.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, said the programme was the Ministry’s initiative, aimed at encouraging stakeholders to encourage learners’ interest in school by adopting and mentoring students in public secondary schools across the state.
He emphasised that the mentorship programme was to enable stakeholders offer career guidance and values to learners; gives first hand information to stakeholders regarding the needs and challenges facing schools in their immediate communities, among others.
“His Excellency adopted education as one of the focal areas of attention and allocated 20% of 2021 budget to Education, and further increased it to 30% in 2022. This is a fit that is monumental and iconic in the history of the state as this surpasses the UNESCO global benchmark.
“However, a lot remains to be done, because Government alone cannot do it. Collective effort and team work by stakeholders is required to ensure the provision of accessible, safe and conducive learning environment, and quality education delivery,” he said.
“He said the programme would arm stakeholders with the information to navigating the challenges of educational landscapes on areas for intervention.
He added that the programme would motivate teachers and learners and restore learners’ interest in education and its values.
According to him, technological and professional tools to support schools will be made available by stakeholders, and be responsive to the needs of their community schools; and aid schools to recover lost glory.
“It will help stakeholders to have firsthand informational knowledge about schools and learners, for adoption and support.
“It will motivate teachers and school management for improved service delivery. Create old students associations in schools where none exist and strengthening of existing ones,” Jones said.
According to the commissioner, the targeted stakeholders included: political office holders at federal, state and local governments, religious and traditional rulers, entrepreneurs, senior civil servants, community based leaders, union leaders, old students association, among others.
Speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Moses Ododo, commended the governor and the commissioner for taking education to the next level in the state.
Ododo assured that the lawmakers would continue to do their best to giving the necessary support to education development in the state.
In his vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, thanked God for making the day a reality.
Idenyi commended the Governor, the commissioner, the House Committee Chairman for their commitments in ensuring that the programme took off as desired.
The Permanent Secretary urged the stakeholders to key into to the programmes, while calling on the media for their cooperation for effective partnership with the ministry to ensure the success of the programme.
The State’s Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Planning, Hon. Asiwaju Idris, and other Commissioners, SUBEB Chairman and STETSCOM Chairperson were present at the occasion.
All other relevant stakeholders who were well represented at the occasion expressed their support for the school adoption and mentorship programme.
Mr Yusuf Robert Awodi, Tue State President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), commended the state government for the initiative.
Awodi assured the government of the total support of the confederation in enduring that the programme achieved its desired goals.
