The Kogi State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has concluded arrangements to collaborate with Pharm. Abdulkareem Asuku Youth Empowerment Foundation (PAAYEF), to organise a Statewide Debate and Quiz Competition for senior secondary schools across the state.
The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, disclosed this on Tuesday at a meeting with the Principals of the participating schools in the competition.
The commissioner thanked God Almighty on behalf of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for his stand and principle never to play politics with education in Kogi State.
He stressed that the Governor had said it time without number that, ”when it is time for politics, we play politics but on the issue of education it is serious business.
”’That is why His Excellency says education is a foundation for development because it provides solutions to the society”.
”There is no sustainable development we can ever hope to or able to achieve if our educational system is faulty”.
According to Jones, the Governor is fully aware of that and he is a man that is working his talk, he does not just speak, he backs up his speech with action especially in the area of education.
Jones specifically expressed his gratitude to the Governor on the enactment of Kogi State Education Law, 2020.
He noted that the State since creation in 1991, had not been able to come up with any education law until about six months ago when the governor supported it, ”and today we have a fully enacted education law in Kogi State”.
He noted that majority of the Northern States are still operating with the 1964 Northern Nigeria Education Law as Amended.
”So, Kogi is clearly standing out and the Governor is putting us on a pedestal for sustainable growth and development as far as education is concerned”, he said.
He thanked the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pharm. Abdulkareem Asuku, who had shown himself to be very responsible and responsive by volunteering to foot the bill of organising a State-Wide Quiz and Debate Competetion. ”I must thank him very much”.
He, however expressed his displeasure over the low turnouts of principals of all the invited schools at the meeting.
”We are expecting about 43 principals but we have barely about 20 principals present, especially the low turnout from the Eastern part of the state; only 5 principals out of 18 schools came from the east.
”This is not acceptable and would not be taken lightly”, he said.
He urged other sponsors to come up and support such school competitions in the state for the benefits of the students.
He enjoined the principals to take the competition very seriously and ensure that they adequately prepare their students from the preliminary to the final stage of the competition.
He added: ”I want you to take this competition very seriously by engaging and tutor your students, and if you need my assistance, do not fail to reach me.
”I appeal to you, do not take this for granted but take it as a challenge. I want the best to come out of Kogi State, and I know it will happen”.
The commissioner assured that the issue of inavailability of teachers for key subjects would soon become a thing of the past, saying arrangements are in top level for the recruitment of competent teachers in the state.
”I can assure you that in no distant time from now, the issue of not having enough teachers in our schools would definitely be history in Kogi”.
He also promised that the issue of renovation of schools’ infrastructures was ongoing, saying, ”it is a gradual thing that would go round all the schools in the state under the leadership of His Excellency by the grace of God”.
He further restated the approval and directive of the Governor that 20 per cent of the state’s budget should go to education sector henceforth.
He also assured that the welfare of teachers in the state would be adequately taken care of, saying ”it is a thing that is very paramount in the Governor’s heart”.
Earlier, the Focal Person of PAAYEF, Hon Sandra Mimi Musa, took her time to explain the process and modalities for the statewide quiz and debate competition to be sponsored by PAAYEF.
According to her, the competition will be for SSS 2 and SSS 3 students in six subjects, such as: English, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Current Affairs.
She noted that a total of 43 schools: 18 from Kogi East, 11 from Central and 14 from Kogi West, would be participating in the competition across the state which would be holding in October 2021.
She added that there would be quiz competition among schools that would be organised at zonal level, with two schools to be selected from each local government areas.
She said that 27 students from three schools from each senatorial zone would also write exam to test their intellectual ability, and the best students would be awarded a scholarship from secondary to university level.
She added that there would also be a debate competition at the finally level, and both the schools and students that emerge the best at the final stage would also be equally rewarded.
Mr Awodi Yusufu, the Chairman of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS), Kogi State chapter, who spoke on behalf of other Principals, commended PAAYEF and the Ministry for the gesture.
According to him, the competition would serve as motivation for both students and teachers.
Yusufu, who doubles as Principal of Our Lady of Schools, Anyigba, assured the total support and commitments of the principals to ensuring that the proposed competition achieved its desire goals and objectives.
He, however called for the improvement of infrastructures, teaching and learning materials, and welfare of teachers across the state.
Compiled by Ademu Seidu H.
PRO, KOGI MOEST
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