AKHA Speaker Advocates Review of Free and Compulsory Education In A’Ibom Ubong Sampson

The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Barr) Onofiok Luke has advocated a review of the free and compulsory education programme in the state to make it all round and in tune with the current realities.
The Speaker made the advocacy, Wednesday in Uyo, while playing host to Akwa Ibomites in Academics- a group of academics and senior non-academics indigent in the state which paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
In his speech, Barr Luke said there is need for a review on the programme to accommodate both the basics and the delivery point. He explained that while thinking of the students, the trainers should also be thought of as equally important. On this, the speaker was of the belief that the group will assist the government with a position paper in this regard.
In his words: “I will always say, give the people education and then allow them, and they will  ake good aspirations for themselves. This is because a well educated man can create every other thing for himself. If you ask me, I believe we have done our best in the education sector of the state, but there is still more to be done”.
On this, the speaker advocated for a repositioning of the State College of Education being the major training ground for teachers in the state. “The former provost did well and I believe the present provost will do his best in partnership with thd board in ensuring that the teachers they qualify from the institution are those that we can allow to teach our biological children”, he added.
While acknowledging the outlined goals of the group as earlier disclosed by its National Coordinator, Luke also commended the group on the intiative of bringing themselves together to chart a course towards development and give ideas that will aid the state in progress by identifying one of the “critical needs of the nation” and setting out to assist.
He noted that Akwa Ibomites in academics have always been at the forefront of state and national development. “When we look for technocrats and professionals to man different ministries, departments and agencies; when we look for result oriented people to man those critical sectors of the economy and society at the state and national levels, we are always running to the academic environment”, Luke added.
Earlier in his address, the National Coordinator of the group, Dr. Markson noted that Akwa Ibomites in Academics is a body of academics and senior non-academics of Akwa Ibom State origin working in higher institutions across the world.
He said the body is a non governmental and non profit organisation committed to building the capacity of Akwa Ibomites in the area of education and enterpreneural skills for self reliance and self actualization.
Markson noted that the group was borne out of the need to build a synergy among Akwa Ibomites of diverse order in the world over to come back and contribute their quota to the development of their own state in line with the agenda of the current administration especially in the areas of education and human capacity building.
He noted that part of the purposes for the visit was to notify the Speaker of the group’s decision to appoint him Chairman, Board of Trustees which he said was based on his (the speaker’s) track records in performance.
His words: “our reason for appointing you Chairman of BOT is based on your track records in performance, promotion of educational growth ad human capacity building, as well as other general good attributes of your person including a burning passion in fighting for the masses. All of these and others not mentioned, you have brought to bear in your current position, and even your utterances have built, rather than destroy and promoted unity amongst the citizenry”.
The coordinator noted that with the policies and programmes laid down by the group, education shall not only be brought to the doorsteps of every Akwa Ibom citizen, but shall be a key component of government programmes.
He further solicited the support of the state government and other well meaning individuals and bodies in the state to enable them record reasonable impact in this regard.