Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has committed to not politicizing education in the state during his administration.
The Governor insisted that to achieve a more educationally promising Rivers, things must be done properly at the foundation levels of education.
He said that great attention was paid to detail when choosing seasoned educationalists to administer two strategic schools’ boards to avoid compromising the process.
Fubara made the statements while inaugurating chairmen and members of the State Universal Basic Education Board and the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board and at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
The Governor said that it was important to him to properly constitute the boards because of his passion to improve the quality of education in the State and provide a system that will effectively groom Rivers’s children.
Fubara said: “I have been very patient in carrying out this assignment because I know the importance of these two boards, more especially the board of Universal Basic Education. This is because it is the foundation of the educational development of everybody. “You can’t get it right if you make mistakes from the UBE. That is why I have been extremely patient in inaugurating these boards after the expiration of the tenure of the previous board members.
“I believe that at this point in time, we shouldn’t play politics with everything. We should get certain things right, build a foundation for a better Rivers State,” he emphasized.
Fubara in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS) reiterated that the priority areas of his administration for 2025 remain agriculture, education, and health which, according to him, would be given the needed attention through policy implementation and budgetary allocation to achieve the desired targets.
He said: “So, the inauguration of these boards today is the beginning of our 2025 program for the people of Rivers State, and I strongly believe that we are going to achieve it together as one people who believe in a better Rivers State.”
Fubara urged the board members not only to count themselves lucky to have been appointed but to also be committed to their responsibilities and bring about the needed transformation in the education sector.
He said: “So, I can proudly say that I have no doubt in the capacity of these ones that are here, that are fortunate in the midst of over seven million people that are our supporters and wonderful people of Rivers State. “I count you very lucky, and I strongly believe that this assignment that the Rivers State Government is giving to you, you are going to deliver on it with all amount of commitment. I believe that a lot of good things will happen in our educational sector.”
Fubara also encouraged the State Senior Secondary Schools Board to commence the promotion exercise for teachers, which, he said, has been delayed because there was no board in place.
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Speaking on behalf of his members, the Chairman of the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board, Dr. Sam Emejuru, thanked the Governor for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity out of over seven million people in Rivers State.
He said: “What I want to assure you is that we are not going to disappoint you. We are going to carry out our duties efficiently, diligently, and with fairness to everyone.
“We recognize the fact that you are very passionate about education. So, we are not going to joke with this responsibility assigned to us.
“We are assuring you that we shall not be found lacking. We are going to deliver as you have trusted us to give us this assignment.” In his speech, on behalf of his members, the Chairman of Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Chief David Briggs, expressed gratitude to God and to the Governor for demonstrating a high level of confidence in them with such an assignment.
He said: “Our commitment will be unalloyed. We assure you that we will not disappoint you, knowing how meticulous, passionate, and of course, result-oriented you are.
“We will not disappoint you or your government, and in totality, we will not disappoint the people of Rivers State. We will be at your side, as your foot soldiers to realize the educational heights you have envisioned for Rivers State.”
Those inaugurated for the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board included: Mr. Francis Jacob, Dr. Grace Jaja, Mrs. Jemina Margaret Briggs, and Mrs. Love Aguma as members and Dr. Sam Emejuru as chairman.
For the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. David Theophilus Briggs is the chairman with Nwuke Anucha, Dr. Walson Ominini, Dr Alom Anyanya Austin-Mba as members, while Mrs. Ibiere Pepple is the secretary.
