By Florence Ugbem
Benue State Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr Fredrick Ikyaan has called on stakeholders to collaborate with the state government to raise education to a higher level.
The Commissioner made the call Thursday at Government College, Makurdi when he paid a familiarization visit to the school.
Addressing staff of the college, Dr. Ikyaan noted that, “Education is the bedrock of the society and we cannot toil with it, and we must raise it from here to a higher level”.
He reiterated Governor Alia’s commitment towards improving the status of education in the state, saying the governor was aware of the challenges confronting the sector and assured that in due time he would address them.
Dr. Ikyaan, who assessed structures and equipment in the school, lamented the level of infrastructure dilapidation, noting that they were death traps. He assured that the sector cannot continue like that and promised to report back to the governor for the needed action to be carried out.
“The learning environment determines the kind of knowledge that will come out of it”, he said.
He thanked the staff of the college for their resilience and dedication to duty, stating that teachers have a critical role to play in the development of humanity and education.
In her remarks, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Aumbur Agena explained that the college is the oldest school in Northern Nigeria and it is used for exchange programmes.
She lamented the level of dilapidation of structures and machines in the school workshop. She enumerated other challenges facing the college ranging from inadequate mattresses for students among others, and was hopeful that the visit of the commissioner will yield positive results.
Mrs Agena thanked the governor for initiating the Safe School Programme, stating that it proves that he wants to revamp, rebuild and develop schools to keep the Benue children safe.
