By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
A group, Esan Agenda has hailed the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki for his administration’s sustained investment in the education sector and commitment to repositioning the Ambrose Alli University as the best tertiary institution in the country.
Convener of the pro-development group, Esan Agenda, Mr. Akhere Obozele in a statement, commended the governor for setting up a visitation panel to the university to look into the affairs of its operations in line with the laws establishing it and other sundry issues.
He noted that the governor set up a very experienced and formidable team to help transform the citadel of learning into a world-class institution and come up with ideas on how the university can operate in a post-coronavirus (COVID-19) economy.
Obaseki had recently set up a seven-man Special Visitation Panel to look into the affairs of the Ambrose Alli University and submit its report within six (6) weeks. The panel chaired by Prof. I. K. Omoruyi has Prof. Lawrence Atsegbua, Mrs. M. E. Ohiowele, Roland Ogbebor, Dr. J. O. Okovido, Venerable Osaze Egbenusi, and Mrs. P. E. Aziegbemhin as members.
According to Akhere, “We are proud to have a governor who does not view investment in the education sector as a burden but a responsibility because of its far-reaching impact on society.
“The governor through the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme has continued to train and retrain our teachers for effective learning management systems, thereby addressing the needs of our children from early childhood up to the Junior Secondary School level. Today, we don’t have pupils who just go to school but those that can read and write.
“His developmental impacts in secondary and tertiary education are visible for everyone to see and we are confident that he will continuously provide and maintain existing facilities for enhanced teaching and learning in our educational institutions.”
Akhere continued: “Esan people are specifically grateful to the governor for setting up a Special Visitation Panel to look into the affairs of Ambrose Alli University with a view to repositioning the University into a world class citadel of learning. The Panel has already commenced work with a call for memoranda and visit to the institution to familiarise with the school community and other stakeholders and solicit for cooperation of the people.
“The last visitation panel that looked into the activities of the university was about ten years ago and we’re confident that this very experienced and formidable team put up by the governor and Visitor to the University will critically look into all issues limiting the progress of the institution with the aim of reorganising it for the future.