GOV DICKSON IDENTIFIES INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION AS A PANACEA TO DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES

GOV DICKSON IDENTIFIES INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION AS A PANACEA TO DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES

 Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State says his administration will continue to make massive investment in the educational sector as a means of tackling the myriad developmental challenges confronting the State. 
Hon. Dickson stated this when the Governing Council of the University of Port-Harcourt led by its Pro- Chancellor and chairman of council, Reverend(Dr.) Walter Eneji paid him a courtesy call at Government House in Yenagoa.
 The Governor, who identified the development of the human resource as the most compelling need of the country in contemporary times, noted that his administration will continue to review various policies and programmes with the aim of turning around the sector. According to Governor Dickson, adequate investment in education will not only serve as a veritable means to secure the future but also create sustainable prosperity in the country.Expressing gratitude to the Governing Council for the visit, Hon. Dickson lauded the University for the Pivotal Role it is playing in the development of the much needed manpower for the state and country at large. Governor Dickson, who described Rivers and Bayelsa States as Siamese twins, pledged his administration’s readiness to support the University of Port Harcourt with a view to achieving not only academic excellence but also grow to become one of the best institutions of higher learning in the world. Accordingly, the Governor directed the State commissioner for education, Chief Salo Adikumo, to liaise with the Governing Council to enable government meet the requests made by the University. Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Governing Council, Rev. (Dr.) Walter Eneji commended Hon. Dickson for the bold steps he has taken so far to reposition the State for rapid development I all sectors of the economy. Rev. (Dr.) Eneji, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the University particularly, thanked the Governor for his educational policies and key appointments such as the Chief Historian and Archivist, which he noted will help to chronicle the activities of government for posterity.
 The Chairman expressed delight at the establishment of the Federal University of Otuoke, and assured the Governor of his institution’s preparedness to collaborate with government to foster growth and development in the State. The University solicited government’s assistance in some of its ongoing projects which include the Dame Patience Jonathan Centre, sand-filling of the Centre for Continuing Education and School of Graduate Studies which currently has an outstanding financial commitment of about N300 million. Appreciating King Amalate Turner for endowing a Chair in honour of Professor Ebiegberi Alagoa in the History Department of the University, Rev. (Dr.) Eneji also called on other well-placed alumni to emulate his (Turner’s) kind gesture. 
Dignitaries who accompanied the Chairman on the visit include the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Joseph Ajienka, Deputy Vice Chancellors Administration and that of Research and Development, Professor Ethelbert Nduka and Professor (Mrs) Bene Willie Abbey, amongst others.  
Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa state