▪Commissions Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Awkright, has commended Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, for investing in girl-child education.
He said that no country could develop if it failed to educate its girls.
While commissioning the Government Girls Secondary School, Rumuokwuta on Saturday, Awkright called for greater investments in girl-child education.
He said: “There is no reason we should neglect half of our population who can help ensure the prosperity of the country. That is why education is important. That is why girl child-education is important. Without girl-child education, this country cannot thrive”.
While thanking the people of Rivers State for their warm reception, he said that he was genuinely pleased to be in the state which is the heart of the Niger Delta Region.
“I am particularly pleased that I am here for the commissioning of a girl’s school. I have a daughter. I know how important it is to see girls educated. That they receive a minimum of 12 years of quality education.
“When they are educated, they marry later. When they marry later, they have fewer children. They can contribute to the economy. They can fulfill themselves”, the British High Commissioner said.
At the event, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike stated that his administration was committed to quality education, hence the transformation of selected schools.
Governor Wike disclosed that critical investments had been made to improve quality of teaching and learning in the interest of the development of the state.
He announced that the school would return to its old uniform, while the primary school would be fenced off from the secondary section.
“We will contract the maintenance of this school to members of the host communities. They will cut the grass and clean the environment of the school.
“We shall provide security in the school. Beginning Monday, nobody is allowed to trek across the school premises. This is a girl’s school and their security is paramount “, he said.
Governor Wike warned the principal of the school against hiring out facilities of the institution for conferences, noting that boys will no longer be allowed to play football in the institution.
In a project description, Rivers State Education Commissioner, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, said that the school, which was established in 1972, was allowed to decay beyond measures by previous administrations.
He said that all the structures in the school were dilapidated, pointing out that the Wike administration demolished them and built new structures.
The education commissioner stated that the school has four new hostels, a major 960-seater Assembly Hall, sick bay, several science and other laboratories, sports facilities and new internal roads.
But, the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Prince Solomon Eke, said that the people were proud of the transformation of the Government Girls Secondary School with modern facilities, newly equipped laboratories, modern teaching and learning aids.
The occasion was marked by different traditional dances by the host community, students and a visiting dance troupe.
Governor Wike later led the British High Commissioner to Nigeria on a tour of facilities at the school.