Education is the bedrock for development
Governor Adamu reading his address
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Education has been described as the most important resource for human
development. This assertion was made by Governor Abdullahi Adamu while
addressing a National delegates meeting of the All Nigeria Conference of
Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) holding at the Ibrahim Abacha
Youth Center, Lafia.
In realization of this, the Nasarawa state government has committed
enormous resources into the improvement of facilities at all levels of
education. Beginning from the primary level, Governor Adamu stated that the
Ara declaration which he made on assumption of office, has led to the
construction of 2 primary schools in all electoral wards in the state.
Teacher’s salaries are now being paid on time and teaching materials are now
available to all teachers.
Dr. Turaki, ANCOPSS
President
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Reviewing the situation at the secondary level, Governor Adamu informed
the audience that 49 new secondary schools have been established around the
state, 9 new science secondary schools have been established while 2500
teachers have been recruited from all parts of the country for the schools.
As part of incentives to make the teaching profession attractive, government
has introduced some allowances for the teachers. These allowances include
responsibility, inducement, hazard,
deprivation and of special note, call duty allowances respectively.
At the tertiary level, Governor Adamu who is a Fellow of the Nigeria
Academy of Education stated that significant achievements have been
recorded. Virtually, all courses at the College of Education Akwanga have
been accredited by the N.C.C.E. while the Institution has also been upgraded
to a degree awarding Institution in affiliation with Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria.
A major landmark in the development of the education sector by this
administration, the Governor continued, is in the establishment of two
higher Institutions of learning in the State - the State Polytechnic Lafia
and the State University in Keffi. Already, the Polytechnic is into its
second academic session while the first batch of students of the State
University resumed for full academic activities on 11 th
February 2002.
ANCOPSS delegates
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Speaking earlier, the National President of ANCOPSS, Dr. Adamu Turaki
commended the state government for the enormous strides so far recorded in
education. He said that they had personally gone through the length and
breadth of the state and have seen what has been achieved. He said that the
gathering was very proud of the Governor and urged him to continue in his
good works. Comparing Nasarawa state to others in the country, Dr. Turaki
said that the state far exceeded the developments in other states. The
situation in some states, Dr Turaki continued, was so bad that teachers have
not been paid their salaries for the past six months. They therefore pledged
to use the progress recorded in Nasarawa state as a standard of judgment for
assessing achievement in other states.
Present at the opening ceremony were members of the State Executive
Council, senior civil servants and stakeholders in education.
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