The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah has described education as top priority among the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Minister disclosed this yesterday at the Federal Government Girls College, FGGC, Onitsha, when he commissioned the multi-million naira teachers’ quarters built by the Nigerian Breweries, under the Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund.
The quarters built in honour of Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi, a senior education officer in the school who won the Maltina-Teacher of the Year 2015 Science Quiz competition which was on the auspices of the Nigerian Breweries.
He described the Nigerian Breweries and Mrs. Obi examples as part of the success story of the Buhari administration’s change mantra.
He praised Anambra state for producing a lot of personalities and intellectuals like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Prof Chunua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and Mrs Rose Nkem Obi who won the 2015 national teachers’ science quiz competition.
Prof Anwuka called on other Corporate bodies and multinational companies to emulate Nigerian Breweries Plc in development of education in Nigeria, and noted that education occupies strategic position in the change mantra which is laying emphasis on quality and improvement of education sector.
He said, “We are happy that a corporate entity like Nigerian Breweries is supporting the development of education and they are helping the Federal Government in motivation of teachers through Maltina-teacher of the year 2015 competition and award to teachers and building of structures like this for the school that produced the teachers”
“We are also aware that Nigerian breweries has awarded scholarships to students and are still awarding under its corporate social responsibility.
“We want to thank them for their support and we are encouraging them to do more just as we are asking other corporate entities and multinational organizations operating in Nigeria to emulate them by encouraging our teachers and the educational sector”.
The Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano represented by the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha commended Mrs. Obi for bringing teachers to limelight, adding that each time she listens to her speak, she draws into conclusion that she really deserve the award.
He added that the state had equally included her among the 100 Anambra best achievers compendium which would soon be launched as part of 25 years anniversary of the state.
Omenugha identified 2015 as the best year for Anambra state, being the year the state won best junior and senior secondary schools and being the year Mrs. Obi won the Maltina Teacher of the Year award.
He added that Anambra state is the home of achievers, like late Prof Chinua Achebe, Late Prof Dora Akunyili, Prof Charles Soludo, Dr Emeka Anyaoku and Miss Chimamanda Adichie, including others.
Managing Director and Chief Executive of Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, represented by the Corporate Affairs Advisor of the company, Mr. Kufre Ekanem said that “Nigerian Breweries in 1994 decided to play a more active role in its commitment to the development of education in Nigeria when it established the Nigerian Breweries –Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund with take-off value of N100 million.
“Since that year, the fund has impacted over 20,000 students across Nigeria, and through the fund, we have built over 250 classrooms and 22 Libraries in both primary and secondary Schools across 44 communities in Nigeria”, Vervelde stated.
“Vervelde who also disclosed that Mrs. Obi would be entitled to N1 million per annum for the next five years, said the result of this year’s 2016 Maltina-teacher competition would be released on October 5, being the World teachers’ Day.
He added: “We have also renovated and donated equipment to tertiary institutions including University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Pan Atlantic University, PAU Lagos and we are currently equipping their clinical skills laboratory at University College Hospital, Ibadan”.
“As you may know, this 2-apartment project was attracted to this school by the success of Mrs Rose Nkemdilim Obi, when she became the winner of the maiden edition of Maltina-Teacher of the year initiative in 2015 and as part of her prize, there were many personal rewards but the idea of a school based project was to ensure that when a teacher won, the community where he or she teaches also won.
In a remark Mrs. Obi appealed to the federal and State Governments to improve the teachers’ salaries to make teaching profession attractive as according to her by so doing, the best brains would be retained in the profession to impact better knowledge for the development of the country.
The Principal of FGGC, Onitsha, Mrs. Margaret Enonuya had recalled that the grand finale of the year 2015 Maltina-teacher competition was performed on October 12, 2015 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos where Mrs. Obi emerged the overall winner.
“Rarely has a staff been so honoured that the Minister of State for education, Prof. Anwukah is here himself to commission this twin three bedroom teachers’ quarters built in her honour,” she added.
Enonuya commended the Minister, PTA staff and students of the school; Nigerian Breweries and the state government.
She remarked: “Rarely in deed has any secondary school in Nigeria been so honoured as today to be awarded the gift of a twin three bedroom bungalow for producing a national icon, the maltina-teacher of the year 2015 by Nigerian BreweriesPlc”.
From Chuks Collins, Awka