Smart Schools project: ENSG calls for cooperation of traditional rulers, town union executives, others
..As SSG led inspection team visits Oji River LGA.
By MAURICE OKAFOR.
The Enugu state government wants all hands to be on deck in its determination to establish smart schools in every 260 wards in the state.
The Enugu state governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. through his disruptive innovation agenda sees the smart schools project as very inevitable in his administration’s policy to train and reposition Nigerian youths to acquire basic education that will enable them to be productive in the emerging global economy.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG),.Professor Chidiebere Onyia led a team of state government officials on a tour of veritable locations for smart schools and the proposed Type 2 government hospitals in the Oji River local government area. at the weekend called for the collaboration of the Traditional institution, Town union executives and other stakeholders to ensure relative peace that will enhance the speedy execution of the smart school’s project.
Speaking at Universal Primary Education(UPE)Oji River Urban Ward 4. on Saturday, April 27. where he told the contractor to carve out more space for the smart school from yet-to-be-developed plots beside UPE primary school, Prof. Onyia said the establishment of a smart school in the area is inevitable and will not be compromised.
He also directed the contractor to ensure the EEDC relocates the transformer and other electrical installations that might obstruct his construction of the smart school in the area according to standard.
The traditional ruler of Oji Urban, Igwe Oliver Okefi has explained to the team that the said portion of land is already mapped out for another project by the host community, Ahani-Achi, having graciously allotted land and extended the boundaries of the UPE primary school in times past.
The SSG stressed that every land belongs to the government and that the government possesses the right to utilise every land in the state for the public interest. However, he urged Igwe Oliver Okefi to present the certified documents and proof of ownership by the host community to the state government through the office of the commissioner of works for the amicable resolution of the issues.
Prof. Onyia said collaboration and partnership with the traditional rulers and other stakeholders is a panacea for establishing smart schools.
Speaking to newsmen thereafter, the President General of Ahani Development Union(ADU), the host community, Hon. Kingsley Ezeh, assured that the state government and the contractor will get all the desired cooperation to ensure hitch-free completion of the project.
He said he earlier doubted the intention and purpose of clearing the site without prior information from any quarters.
In a brief chat, Engr. Kalu Ulu, the Managing director of the company handling the Oji Urban Ward 4 smart school project said he needs the partnership of the traditional ruler, town union executives and other stakeholders to provide an enabling environment such as security that will enhance the hitch-free execution of the project.
The SSG was accompanied on the tour of inspection of smart schools location by the commissioner of tourism and culture, Dame Ugochi Madueke, the state commissioner for education, and Prof.Mbah, the member representing Oji River constituency in the state house of assembly. Hon. Osita Ezeh, all citizens of Oji River local government areas, among others.
Oji River local government area with twenty political wards stands the opportunity of gaining 20 established smart schools and 20 Type 2 hospitals each per ward before the end of Governor Mbah’s tenure.
