The Imo state Governor Rochas Okorocha has warned that his administration will arrest and prosecute any parent or guardian who engages their children (within the school-age in street hawking especially during school hours.
The Governor said this on Thursday, during a ceremony marking the 7th year anniversary of his administration’s free education policy.
Okorocha said no parent or guardian should give excuses of not having funds to send their wards to school because according to him, his administration has made education free from primary to tertiary level for indigenes of the state.
The event which held at the Heroes Square in Owerri the Imo state capital, had in attendance thousands of students from the primary to tertiary level, top government functionaries and indigenes of the state.
One after another, beneficiaries of the free education at all levels took to the podium to express their gratitude to the Governor for the privilege of getting an education.
Speaking further, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to establishing more schools, noting that asides the existing ones, three more universities, two polytechnics and one College of Education have been established.
“My greatest gift to Imo people is free education, especially on this lovers’ day. Today, we have built three more Universities, more Polytechnics and Colleges of education. We shall continue to invest in that direction so that hundreds of thousands of our Children always denied admissions every year even when they meet all the requirements can be taken care of.
“Imo State has the education population to fill as many Universities as possible. In Imo our greatest industry is education. We have also begun to make Schools in the rural areas attractive. The Science Laboratories are going to be fully equipped before the end of May. We have three commissioners for education because of the importance we attach to it”.
“My desire is to see that every child of Imo must be educated. I see education as life itself. Hence, I was propelled to introduce free education at all levels. My joy knows no bound that if I finish as governor today, I would have fulfilled my heart desire of eradicating illiteracy in the State”. Okorocha said.
On a lighter note, the Imo state cultural troupe (Omenimo) trilled guests with their performance.
The high point of the event, however, was the presentation of a brand new car to the overall best teacher in the state.
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