Gov Ugwuanyi says, education is the bedrock for development

By Agency Report 

Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State says his administration prioritized education since assumption of office in 2015 because is the bedrock of development.

Ugwuanyi said this in Nsukka on Thursday while delivering the 5th Adada Lecture organised by Association of Nsukka Professors (ANP) and  official unveiling of  State University of Medical & Applied Sciences  (SUMAS) Igbo-Eno  of Enugu State.

The governor had earlier on arrival at the university before the lecture, officially unveil SUMAS  after being conducted round the university by the Vice-chancellor, Prof James Ogbonna.

The Adada 5th lecture was titled "Education and inclusive development,"

Ugwuanyi said his administration provided access to education by providing adequate structures and making it education  affordable in the state.

"I am glad our effort have.yeilded result as it has helped the state to attain milestones in education.

"My administration constructed and reconstructed thousands of primary and secondary school blocks hostels across six education zones in the state.

"My administration  recruited over 7,030 primary and secondary school teachers and conversion of 1000 teachers initially recruited as ad-hoc staff to permanent and released all outstanding arreas and promotions," he said.

He said that leadership, education and development are mutually related, stressing that a productive economy can only be achieved by an enlightened and motivated workforce.

"Education builds capacity and increases knowledge that enables one acquire leadership skills. therefore, leadership, education and development are mutually related," he said.

Ugwuanyi said also that higher institutions owned by the state like Enugu University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) others also received adequate attention by his administration.

He said it was because of his love for education that his administration established the state medical university at Igbo-Eno.

He said other sectors of the economy witnessed positive and practical transformation that had made Enugu State the investors destination point.

The governor commended the ANP for the Adada lecture as well finding him worthy to deliver the 5th lecture.

In a remark Ogbonna, the Vice Chancellor of SUMAS said that the occasion was unique because it was meant to unveil the university officially as well as  the governor to present the 5th Adada Lecture.

He thanked the Governor for establishing the university which he said would help to admit more candidates seeking for medicine admission and other related courses.

"Both University of Nigeria Nsukka and ESUT admit less than 10 per cent of indigens of Enugu state seeking admissions in medicine and other related courses.

"For establishing and equipping this university Ugwuanyi has written his name in gold as future generations will remain gratful to his administration.

"Thank Ugwuanyi  for finding me other appointees  worthy to be the pioneers of the university and we promised we  will not disappoint the state," he said.

Also in  a remark, Prof Ossy Okanya the President of  ANP said that Ugwuanyi was the first governor in Enugu state to attend Adada lecture,  and the first to be the guest lecturer.

Okanya said that the association was  satisfied with the performance of Ugwuanyi as a lawmaker and also as a governor in the past seven years.

"This is why he was chosen to deliver this lecture, so that the public will learn from his  wealth of experience and good leadership skills," Okanya said.

The president commended the LOC chairman Prof Ikechukwu Onyishi, and his team for commitment and dedication in ensuring that the 5th Adada lecture was a huge success.

"The ANP is grateful to LOC led by Prof Onyishi for their adquate planning to ensure that this event is huge success,"he said.

The occasion which was chaired by Justice Chima Nweze, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, was represented by Justice Ken Okpe of the Enugu High Court.