By Stephen Adeleye.
A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in education sector in Kogi State, has commenced the donation of thousands of note books and school bags to the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, to be distributed to schools across the state.
Speaking while taken the delivery of the materials in his office in Lokoja on Friday, the Commissioner of the Ministry, Hon. Wemi Jones, thanked the donor, who preferred to remain anonymous, for heeding the call of the State Government to boosting education sector in the state.
Jones noted that the School Adoption and Mentorship Programme, is achieving a tremendous success across the state, while appreciating Governor Yahaya Bello, for his commitment to revamping education sector in the state.
According to him, the school adoption and mentorship programme is an initiative of the Kogi State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, which has gone through all levels of approval including that of the State Executive Council (SEC).
Jones noted that the intention was to get every major stakeholder in Kogi State to give back to the educational system in the state, which include: public office holders at Federal State and Local Government levels.
Others are: traditional rulers, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, senior civil servants, community based leaders, union leaders, old students associations, civil society organisations and nongovernmental organizations, among others.
”The intention is for all the targeted stakeholders to go back to schools especially secondary schools of their choice to teach students and also give them motivational speeches, their true life stories and stories of historical heroes, among others.
He stressed that it would also see how they could intervene in addressing one issue or the other in the school, saying, ”it is difficult to find anybody who is somebody today that has not passed through one form of educational system or the other.
”We need to change the psyche of these children, address the society and do things that will change the wrong their mentality.
”Morality is at its lowest ebb, but the truth is that when a successful adult outside the teachers and parents, talk to these children, the tendency that they may want to listen is there.
”We want our leaders, stakeholders to come and share their past, stories and experiences with these children,” he reiterated.
Jones added that the state government also want to reduce the incidence of young school leavers being converted to thugs and cultists, saying this could be achieved by talking to the children continuously.
”After the launch of the program, we reach out to a good number of people through letters, and I am glad that the response has been tremendous.
”When we conceived this program, I never imagined we are going to achieve this level of positive feedback.
”As I speak with you, somebody who does not want his name to be mentioned has committed himself to the production of note books and school bags in tens of thousands, and God’s willing as soon as school resume for the third term, we are going to commence the distribution of the materials as specified by the donor,” Jones said.
He added that some old student associations have also contacted him on their intention to go back to their alma mata to do lots of intervention projects to complement government’s efforts in infrastructural development.
He emphasised that the Government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has committed huge some of money towards the renovations and revamping of the schools’ structures across the 21 local government areas of the state.
”I have also got various calls and comments from people coming forth to say they would want to be part of it.
”I thanked the various stakeholders in Kogi State for showing so much interest in the project, because anybody that is showing interest in education, definitely, he is passionate about the future of our dear state.
”I can tell you that among all the programmes I have executed as Commissioner which have been fully supported by His Excellency, this is the program that has received the widest commendation and patronage,” he said.
The Commissioner thanked His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for his strong support and commitment to revamping and developing education in the state.
He further called on all stakeholders to ensure full participation in the programme as well as contributing their own quota in an attempt to revamping and developing education in the state for future sake.
”This is a journey that we are going to undergo together, and we expect that even subsequent governments would put it into our system in Kogi State”, he said
