By Michael Ezenwata
Governor Chukwuma Soludo has in an unprecedented gesture celebrated teachers in this year’s World Teachers Day, showering them with mouth watering promises and gifts to enhance their proficiency in their job delivery.
The ceremony was staged at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme square Awka where the governor announced his intention to recruit more teachers in the state.
The reality of his decision according to him, was in response to the upsurge in the number of enrollments in the state public schools occasioned by his free education policy yielding tremendous dividends.
Some of the successes recorded by his free education policy were the nine awards won by the state at the national level this year.
Prominent among them was the first position taken by Woliwo Primary School, Onitsha among its competitors in Nigeria which attracted a Presidential gift of an 18- seater bus and 8 laptops.
In response to the victory, he announced a cash donation of 10 million naira to the school for doing the state proud.
He further extended a similar gesture to other eight schools which ended up as runners up with prize gifts of 5 million naira each.
Furthermore, the governor announced cash rewards of 5 million naira each for laurels won by schools or individuals from the state, starting from 2022 to 2024.
Viewing education as the bedrock of every civilized society, Governor Soludo promised to improve the working conditions of teachers in the state which are already in progress courtesy of the 22 smart schools in the state.
In all, the governor conveyed his determination to move the state to greater heights with the expectation that the citizenry will discharge their civic responsibilities to the state.
In a speech, the Commissioner for Education in the state Prof. Ngozi Chuma- Udeh eulogized the governor for giving priority to the education sector through his free education policy which has yielded great dividends for the state.
The Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Service Commission Prof. Nkechi Ikediugwu, rolled out the numerous success story of the Soludo administration in education to include his free education policy, recruitment of 8,115 teachers in the state, designation of 22 smart schools in the state among others.
The PPSSC boss endorsed Governor Soludo for a second term in office, announcing that there is no vacancy at the Light House Awka.
The President of ANCOPSS in the state doubling as the Principal, Urban Girls Secondary School Onitsha Mrs. Bibian Onwuka, expressed delight that her school is one of the 22 smart schools in the state and called for the creation of more smart schools in the state to enhance teaching and learning in the state.
Mrs. Onwuka used the forum to endorse Prof. Soludo for a second term in office given his free education policy, recruitment of 8,115 teachers in the state and other developmental accomplishments.
In a message to the occasion, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Comrade Chika Chukwudozie, commended Governor Soludo for taking education to a higher level in the state.
According to Comrade Chukwudozie, the governor has written his name in gold for his education policy, recruitment of 8,115 teachers and other reforms in the education sector.
The NUT boss endorsed the governor for a second term in office given his enviable track records in efficient service delivery.
Ezenwata is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
