…As Completion Agenda Exposition Campaign Lightens Eket, Ibeno Schools


The Principals of Government Secondary School Afaha Eket and that of Grammar Secondary School Ibeno, all in Akwa Ibom State have commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for improving the working condition of teachers in public schools across the state and for initiating programmes that impact learning for the students.


The encomiums were poured on Governor Emmanuel when the ‘completion agenda exposition campaign’, a programme carried out by the office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on project monitoring, Mrs Josephine Bassey, stormed schools in Eket and Ibeno Local Government Areas to take the students on an excursion to key infrastructures and industries in the state.

Speaking with the team, the Principal General of Government Secondary School, Afaha Eket, Mr Eyoh Etim Aweh applauded Governor Udom Emmanuel placing value on teachers, school principals and the teaching profession in general. He said “this programme is a commendable programme, the government by this programme is catching them young when they have not yet decided. When you take them out, what they will see will help them make better decisions for their future. Now that industries are springing up in Akwa Ibom State, when they go, what they will see will inspire them, it is a very nice programme”.

Asked about the education sector in the state, especially the welfare and morale of teachers, Mr Eyoh said “it is well. I have not seen a government like this before. Our governor has been so pragmatic he has done well. For example, as a principal that I am on grade level seventeen, but before I have seen principals that retired in grade-level twelve, they never experienced level fourteen, but here am I in level seventeen. And I know that the Governor is even appointing principals as permanent Secretaries, something that has never happened before. Governor has also given us a special salary. Teachers now earn more than other civil servants in the state. Most states don’t enjoy what we are enjoying in Akwa Ibom State, and I pass a vote of confidence on the Governor”.

As early as 7am, 30 students of Junior Secondary one to three, fifteen students each from Secondary School Afaha Eket and Secondary Grammar School Ibeno were already waiting with excitement at their respective schools for the arrival of the Governor’s Aide and her entourage. The students, selected based on their good performance in past examinations shouted for joy as the team arrived, and after brief profiling and briefing by the Governor's Aide, the team made their way to Kings Floor Mill in Onna Local Government Area.

At the Floor Mill, the students were received by the Head, Human Resources, Mr Tope Akerodolu who took time to charge the students to take their studies seriously so that they can work in the best industries in the world. The HR thereafter handed over the students to the Acting Production Manager, Mr James Alaribe who took the children on a tour of the expansive facility and machines used for the production of flour. For over an hour, the students were virtually thought how to produce flour, the tour guard maximized the interactive style of teaching, they were also exposed to machines, safety procedures in workplace and career paths to work in any industry.

In their testimonies and reaction to the exposition, the teachers of the benefitting schools applauded the State Government for undertaking such a nice programme, Mrs. Ikakke Smith, a biology teacher at Secondary School Afaha Eket said “ I am very grateful to the Government for taking this initiative to expose the students to such excursion, it does not easily happen in public schools and as you have seen this programme will inspire the students to want to maintain their first position in class so that they can keep on benefitting from such opportunities, while other students who witnessed the first position takers being given branded books and other materials and driven in that fine bus out for excursion will feel challenged to aspire to work hard”.

Miss. Elfrida Uzono a teacher in Afaha Eket also applauded the programme, for her “I really cherish the experience of seeing that it is true that those industries actually exist in Akwa Ibom State because many people do not believe. If I am this excited to visit that place I am sure that my students have been inspired to aspire to greatness in life. I really thank the State Government for this”.

Mr. Victor James Ufon, an SS3 physics teacher of Secondary Grammar school in Ibeno was full of joy. He said “people used to say that there is no flour mill in Akwa Ibom State I have gone and I have seen that there is one and our youths are working there. As for my students, they have learnt a lot and most of them will aspire to work in places like that. I thank the SA to the Governor for organizing such a trip, and I thank God for safety. We need more of such excursion for our students”.

Most of the students who spoke with the team expressed their excitement and were full of hope and inspiration about their future. They pledged to work hard in order to earn a place in top industries like the Flour Mill.