GOVERNOR DIRI INAUGURATES SIX NEW SCHOOLS IN YENAGOA

Governor Douye Diri, on Friday, inaugurated projects executed by his administration in six newly created secondary schools in the state capital, Yenagoa.

The schools are located in Biogbolo, Yenezue-Epie, Ovom, Ekeki, Akenfa and Igbogene communities and have a combined population of 4,628 students.

Speaking during the joint inauguration at the Government Secondary School, Biogbolo, Governor Diri said his administration was bequeathing legacy projects that would speak for him at the end of his tenure.

He explained that on assumption of office, he realized there was a deficit in school infrastructure and he decided to approve the construction of schools across the state capital.

He said his decision was not misplaced as the schools have provided access to education for children who would have been deprived education due to lack of schools.

The Bayelsa helmsman said building the human capacity was a top priority of his government and it would continue to embark on programmes to train children at their impressionable ages in order to inculcate the right attitudes and skills in them.

The governor advised the students to make good use of the facilities, saying that most of his peers were not lucky to attend school in conducive environments but have become leaders in various professions.

The governor gave a breakdown of the student population in the new schools, saying the school in Biogbolo accommodates 1,000 students, Community Secondary School, Igbogene 361, College of Education Demonstration Secondary School, Ekeki 450, Government Secondary School, Ovom 883, Community Secondary School, Akenfa 1,237 while Government Secondary School, Yenezue-Epie had 679 students.

He added that to improve education, he approved 16 billion naira for renovation of schools and also signed into law increase in the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years.

He advised teachers that are not interested in the job to resign and venture into other vocations or business as government would not condone truancy.

In his remarks, Dr. Gentle Emelah, the Commissioner for Education, said the administration had changed the education narrative of the state by creating an enabling environment for learning for the children.

Dr. Emelah stated that the inauguration of the schools had expanded access to education beyond the two prominent schools in Yenagoa, Bishop Dimeari Grammar School and St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School.

Also speaking, His Royal Highness Frank Amos, the paramount ruler of Biogbolo community, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers of other beneficiary communities, applauded the governor for the initiative.

The traditional ruler noted that Yenezue-Epie community was having a secondary school for the first time in its existence.

Present at the event were Chief Abraham Ingobere, the Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Retired Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah, immediate past deputy governor and Chairman, Bayelsa Elders Council, top government functionaries and traditional rulers.