Wike Begins Renovation Of 19 Schools Simultaneously

In fulfilment of his promise to prioritize quality education in the territory,
Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike has flagged off the renovation and reconstruction of 19 Schools simultaneously across the territory.

Wike who performed the ceremony in the ‘School For the Gifted,’ Gwagwalada, assured the students that everything they desired to see in the school would be provided.

The Minister explained that the 19 schools would be funded from the 2023 supplementary budget, while another 20 schools would be selected for renovation from the 2024 budget.

He therefore promised to make the schools conducive for teaching and learning, emphasizing that education without quality is tantamount to nothing.

“Today we are here to flag-off the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 19 schools. These 19 schools is from the Supplementary Budget of 2023. I want to assure you that for 2024 Budget, we are also going to select another 20 schools for rehabilitation and reconstruction.

” I want to assure you that all the expectations will be met. It is not only access to education. If you give access to education without quality, then you have not given education”.

“…the environment must be something that is habitable, the hostels and where you take care of yourself is very important. So be assured that we will give you the best. We are looking into the teachers too, how we are going to provide quality teachers to teach our students”, Wike said.

The FCT Minister also assured the Contractors that their payment will not be delayed, as directive has been handed down to the treasury department concerning the projects.

“Let me assure the contractors that nobody will be owed. I made sure that before I left the office, I had made sure your mobilisation was sent to the bank. I have told the treasury that woe betide anybody who sabotages the effort of this present government led by President Tinubu”, Wike stressed.

Earlier, the Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud appreciated Wike for his willingness to delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, pointing out that education is the bedrock of development of any nation.

In his address earlier, the Mandate Secretary of the Education Secretariat, Dr Danlami Hayyo, hinted that the Minister apart from the renovation, had approved N280million naira to cater for the scholarship of over 13,000 indigent students in the territory to ensure that no child is left behind.

He described the schools rehabilitation initiative as a new chapter that will foster educational excellence in the near future.

“Permit me to state that the Honorable Minister recently graciously approved the disbursement of the total sum of N280,296,000 as a scholarship to 13,964 fresh and existing indigent students, across all levels of education in the FCT”.

“This is to ensure that no child is left behind. Also, for the first time in 25 years, the Schools Sports Festival was held successfully. All these are testaments to the Honorable Minister’s commitment to the total development of our future leaders”.

On his part, the contractor handling the renovation of the ‘School For the Gifted, Gwagwalada, Mr Osondu Ekwekwe commended the minister for the intervention.

Osondu who revealed that all the structures apart from the Mosque and Church were terribly dilapidated when he took over the site, however promised to deliver a quality job.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji