* As 23 Schools bag recognition award from NEMP in Kogi.
The Governments at all levels in Nigeria have been charged to deploy massive funds and human resources to the technical and vocational education subsector to inculcate skills that will guarantee self reliance and to create employment for the teeming youths.
This is as the Nigeria Education Merit Award Platform has bestowed award of recognition to over 23 Schools in Kogi for their contributions to the growth of education in the state.
The principal GYB Model Science Secondary School, Lokoja, Ajofe Yakubu Godwin gave the charge at the Merit Award Platform for schools in kogi held on Friday in Lokoja.
Ajofe Godwin, noted that the modern nations that have made quantum leap in development of their economies paid serious attention to the study of Technical and vocational education that has imbued in them the ease to use their brains and hands to solve their challenges.
He decried the situation where the Government designed policy on technical and vocational education as in 6;33;4; without paying proper attention to funding, has stagnated the growth and development of the country.
He advised for a concerted effort of policy implementers to deploy massive resources to recruitment and training of technical and vocational teachers and to upscale their welfare to attract the best hands from any part of the world to the sector .
Ajofe Godwin who is also the immediate past National Secretary of Association of Nigerian Conference of Principals of Schools ANCOPS urge eligible tax payers to promptly offset their liabilities to enable government to actualise its plans and programmes for the development of the people.
The Vice Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja, Professor Akinwumi Olayemi in a lecture titled: ” The Role of School Administrators in the Regeneration and Promotion of Our Eroded Culture: Kogi State in Perspective” at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Education Merit Award held in Lokoja said, culture has become synonymous with growth and development.
Represented by, Doctor Segun Joshua, the Vice Chancellor said cultural heritage and traditions serves as a link from one generation to another hence the need to accord it the priority it deserves.
According to him, School Administrators play indispensable roles which should go beyond school management by encouraging critical thinking on cultural preservation, invite guest speakers such local artists, musicians, historians or members of cultural organisations to share knowledge and experiences about Kogi State perspective.
In his opening remark, the Coordinator, Nigeria Education Merit Award Platform, Asiwaju Ayodele Temidayo said the programme was intended to serve as a motivational impetus among core educationist, tutors, scholars and school administrators thereby serving as a source of inspiration to the younger and unborn generations.
Temidayo, said Kogi State was selected due to the massive investment of the State Government in the education sector which is impacting on the quality of outputs at all levels of education in the State.
He expressed appreciation to the immediate past Governor of the State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for his giant strides in the education sector, the present Governor for sustaining the success story and the Commissioner for Education, Hon Wemi Jones for driving the course of education in Kogi State.
He said the merit award platform will extend its tentacles to all the States of the Federation with Nasarawa State as next in line.
He disclosed that 23 schools from both public and private schools in the state were given due recognition for thier various contributions and investment in the education sector according to the Coordinator.
Responding on behalf of award recipients, the Principal, Al-Ansar Secondary School, New Layout, Lokoja, Alhaji Ibrahim Gimba Yabagi expressed appreciation to the organisers for finding schools recognised worthy of the award and assured of giving thier best to the development of education in Kogi State at all levels.
Earlier, the chairman, Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Alhaji Seidu Ademu Haruna described the event as a welcome development that will spur others to contribute positively to the development of the education sector in the State.
Some of the schools given award include; Julitola international school, Al- Ansar Sec Sch, Lokoja, Ahmad Rufai Memorial Group of Schs, Enyidudu Inoziomi, Mubarak Model Academy, Ege, National Group of Sch, Ayingba and Folu International Schools, Isanlu, Yagba West among others.
