… Inspects Proposed Model Secondary School Site In Nsit Ubium
By Bassey Nkponam
NSIT UBIUM
The Akwa Ibom governor has reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to transforming the state’s education sector through the ARISE Education Renewal Initiative.
Pastor Umo Eno, who bared his mind, Monday, when he inspected the site of the proposed Model Secondary School in Ikot Akpan Abia, Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, described the project as a cornerstone of his vision to redefine learning by integrating academic excellence with technical and vocational training, and announced plans for replication of similar model secondary schools of international standard across the three senatorial districts to ensure equitable access to quality education.
Eno said the project was in line with his administration’s vision of building model secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of the State in furtherance of the educational advancement component of the ARISE Agenda.
“This project represents our vision of a new learning environment and quality education that meets global standards. We are building not just classrooms, but centers of creativity and skill,” Governor Eno stated.
He made known that construction would commence immediately after the supplementary budget is approved and that multiple contractors would be engaged to ensure speedy execution and community participation.
The governor noted that the project would generate employment for the host communities, similar to the model farm project, which has already created thousands of local jobs, urging contractors and job seekers to register on the State employment portal, as all government-related jobs would henceforth be sourced through the platform to promote fairness and inclusiveness.
Eno urged contractors to ensure that they register on the ARISE Portal to stand a chance of bidding and securing contracts on the projects, adding that the registration was to secure accurate data and ensure accountability, transparency, and proper verification whenever the need arises.
Highlighting the key features of the model secondary school, Eno said the facility would include skill acquisition centres for trades such as ICT, catering, metal works, and entrepreneurship to ensure that students graduate with practical skills alongside academic learning.
“We want our secondary schools to be polytechnical in nature so that by the time our students gain admission into the university, they already have something to support themselves.
“If you are a contractor, and you know how to draw and interpret building plans, please ensure that you register on the ARISE Portal to stand a chance to win one of the contracts. The registration is necessary so that we can have an accurate data with just a click of a button for the purpose of verification, accountability and transparency.
“Please let’s come together and forget about unnecessary criticism and blackmail. Tell our youths to come home and join hands, let’s build our State,” he stated.
The governor also announced the allocation of 10 hectares of land for a model school farm, meant to be use for agricultural training and self-sustainability programmes for students, assuring that the school would be completed and ready for student intake by September 2026, while similar flagship projects would take off in Ikot Ekpene and Eket Senatorial Districts to ensure even development.
He further stated that the State government was collating data on schools with infrastructure challenges across the State in preparation for a comprehensive renovation programme to commence in the coming weeks.
Eno thanked Nsit Ubium people for coming out enmass to receive him, noting that the inspection was to ascertain the level of work done at the site ahead of flag off, soon.
According to him, “it is a walk-in visit because it is in our habit to visit our project sites regularly and I thank you for coming all out to receive us. I am here to inspect the level of work done here so that when the bill is presented in the office, I know if it is in sync with the work on ground. That is the way we work.
“You are all aware of government’s intention to build international model secondary schools across the three senatorial Districts in the State. This, in particular, is to test if what we are about to do would be good for other senatorial districts.
“So, we have started the project here in Nsit Ubium for Uyo Senatorial District and we expect to flag off this project between now and December. We are just waiting for the supplementary budget to be released”, he added and urged youths to show support and eschew unnecessary negative criticism as educational development symbolises light in Nsit Ubium.
Giving an overview of the project, the delivery advisor on Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, said the institution would have top notch facilities including a technical laboratory, ICT centre, administrative building, hostel blocks for male and female students, library, sporting facilities, multi-purpose hall, staff and principal quarters and a large farmland.
In his remarks, the political leader for Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Effiong Bob, lauded the governor for siting the “magnificent project” in Nsit Ubium, describing it as a clear demonstration of visionary leadership and love for his home community.
Bob noted that the gesture was an indication that charity indeed begins at home, assuring that youths of the area would continue to support the governor, and collaborate with contractors to ensure the successful execution and timely delivery of the project.
In their separate remarks, the clan head of Ubium, Etebom Ukpong Noah Udoewah (JP), as well as the Village Head of Ikot Akpan Abia Ubium, the host community, Chief Ime Ben Uboh, appreciated the governor for the project and for his spectacular service to the State.
They solicited continued support for the governor from the people of Nsit Ubium and the State at large, and prayed that he successfully delivers on his governance blueprint, the ARISE Agenda.
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