The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration will improve access to quality education in public schools across the territory.
Wike made the promise on Thursday, at the School of the Gifted, Gwagwalada, while inaugurating the rehabilitation and construction of 19 public secondary schools in the FCT.
He explained that the move was part of Tinubu administration’s efforts to improve access to quality education in public schools, in addition to the ongoing provision of infrastructure and other basic services to residents.
“I want to assure the students that it is not only access to education, because if we give access to education without quality, then we have not given education.
“Now we are providing access, we must also provide quality and the quality entails that the environment must be conducive, dining must be habitable, the hostels, including where you take care of yourselves. This is very important.
“So, be assured that we will do our best.
“We are looking into teachers too; how we are going to provide quality teachers to teach our children.
“This is the essence of the “Renewed Hope” agenda, under the government of President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
The minister explained that the rehabilitation of the 19 schools would be funded under the 2023 supplementary budget.
He added that a provision was equally made in the 2024 budget for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of additional 20 schools.
He commended the Senate for passing the 2024 FCT Statutory Budget, which he said would enable the FCTA to commence work in earnest.
Wike also said that the FCT Administration would intervene in the health sector, particularly the rehabilitation of hospitals, with General Hospital Gwagwalada as one of the benefiting facilities.
He assured the contractors handling the 19 schools across the FCT that none of them would be owed, adding that he had already signed for the payment of their mobilisation.
Earlier, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, said that the rehabilitation and reconstruction of public schools was a sure step towards building critical manpower for the nation.
Mahmoud described education as the key foundation for sustainable growth and development of any nation, stressing the need to invest hugely in the education sector.
“We know that education is the bedrock of development of any nation and is also the cornerstone of progress.
“Children are special gifts from the Almighty to us; they are the leaders of tomorrow and the ambassadors of the nation, so they will need a conducive and very suitable place to learn, for them to achieve their dreams,” she said.
The minister explained that the rehabilitation of the 19 schools would be funded under the 2023 supplementary budget.
He added that a provision was equally made in the 2024 budget for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of additional 20 schools.
He commended the Senate for passing the 2024 FCT Statutory Budget, which he said would enable the FCTA to commence work in earnest.
Wike also said that the FCT Administration would intervene in the health sector, particularly the rehabilitation of hospitals, with General Hospital Gwagwalada as one of the benefiting facilities.
He assured the contractors handling the 19 schools across the FCT that none of them would be owed, adding that he had already signed for the payment of their mobilisation.
Earlier, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, said that the rehabilitation and reconstruction of public schools was a sure step towards building critical manpower for the nation.
Mahmoud described education as the key foundation for sustainable growth and development of any nation, stressing the need to invest hugely in the education sector.
“We know that education is the bedrock of development of any nation and is also the cornerstone of progress.
“Children are special gifts from the Almighty to us; they are the leaders of tomorrow and the ambassadors of the nation, so they will need a conducive and very suitable place to learn, for them to achieve their dreams,” she said.
The Mandate Secretary, Education Secretariat, FCTA, Dr Danlami Hayyo, said that the projects involved the rehabilitation and construction of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and administrative blocks.
Others, Hayyo added, include construction of perimeter fences, toilets, dining, halls, kitchens and supply of water facilities among other facilities.
Meanwhile, the contractor in charge of the project, Engr. Osondu Ekwekwe, while congratulating the minister for the giant strides achieved in the FCT, appreciated him for remembering the FCT School for the Gifted, Gwagwalada.
He pointed that the school was in urgent need for an intervention, as most of its facilities were dilapidated and a far cry from what what a school should be.
An assessment by the contractor shows that about 16 classroom blocks were completely dilapidated, while the school’s 1.8 kilometer perimeter fence had collapsed, leaving the school accessible to herders and other invaders.
“The school is currently not conducive for learning and habitation. Most of the students defecate in the open due to the absence of toilet among other amenities. You have to hold your breath if you go to the back of the classrooms because the students defecate in the open. Most of the classroom blocks are completely dilapidated. Let me assure you, Honourable Minister, on behalf of the contractors handling other rehabilitation work at other schools, that we will deliver on this project on time.
It was gathered that the 19 contractors had taken possession of site and work has commenced across the 19 schools pencilled down in the first phase
