Akwa Ibom Govt Finalises Partnership with London Borough on Education Exchange Programmes
By Emmanuel Uffot
All is now set for the planned exchange programme between Akwa Ibom Government and the London Borough of Southwark which would see brilliant students in public schools in the rural areas in the state going to London while their counterparts in London will come to Akwa Ibom State.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, by a delegation from the Southwark Council, led by the Mayor, Mr. Michael Situ, he appreciated his visit which he described as a demonstration of friendship and commitment to the exchange deal.
The Governor reaffirmed the commitment of the State Government to fulfill its own side of the partnership obligations.
Explaining his intent in initiating the programme, Governor Eno said the programme is to give some exposure and hope to some bright but not-so-privileged Akwa Ibom children, encourage and inspire them to believe in hard work, and aspire for better future.
Governor Eno “the reason for this programme is for the brilliant child in a public school in the village who didn’t even think of it or have hope of going to the airport, to have the opportunity of sitting on a 6-7 hours flight to arrive the UK and you tell him this ‘just the beginning, if you take your education more seriously, it can take you to any part of the world and you can sit on the table with anyone.
“That’s the catch for me. If I can get one Akwa Ibom child motivated with that, I would have succeeded, so I take this as a project,” he said.
Justifying the funding for the programme amid harsh economic environment, the governor said though the cost may be high due to unfavorable exchange rates, that the human capital development investment for the state and the benefits for Akwa Ibom child, to him, outweighs the cost.
He commended the Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong, for running with the vision to bring it to fruition.
The Governor further directed that the Information boss and facilitor, to facilitate interactions between the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet, Heads of Schools and Local Government Councils and other stakeholders with the Southwark delegation to fine-tune processes towards a smooth take off of the programme.
Allaying the fears of people overstaying their visa or absconding, Governor Eno assured the Southwark Council of the integrity of Akwa Ibom people and modalities by state government that everyone on the programme will return in due time, affirming that the programme will not just be a one-off thing.
“I can guarantee on our honour that every child and member of staff that will leave to the UK, will return. That is the commitment I make because we hope this to be a continuous thing,” the governor assured, expressing optimism that the exchange programme will be mutually beneficial to the two communities.
The governor therefore proposed a forum of Akwa Ibom-Southwark business communities to help explore opportunities for investments between the two entities, also assuring of his administration’s commitment to maintaining the state’s prestige in sports and tourism as having the only FIFA certified stadium in Nigeria, to encourage partnership in sports.
On his part, the Mayor of the London Borough of Southwark, Michael Situ, lauded the ingenuity of the government and people of Akwa Ibom State for not only indicating interest to partner his government for exchange programmes but taking steps at a very impressive pace to concretize the partnership, describing Governor Umo Eno’s leadership as service -oriented.
“when we all think of ourselves as being here for service, the job of governance becomes very simple, in the sense that your focal point becomes what will really benefit the people and how to address their issues and concerns.”
Mayor Situ said schools in the London Borough of Southwark that have been intimated about the exchange programme were already excited about it and expressed optimism that the people of Southwark, especially those of African decent, will be excited to also have an opportunity to visit Akwa Ibom for interactions in culture, sport, and other areas of interest, affirming his satisfaction with the infrastructure and ambience in the State .
It could be recalled that beneficiaries were subjected to written examination to pick out qualifiers. Again during the two- day workshop for principals of public secondary schools in Uyo which ended last Saturday, the Commissioner for Education Mrs Idongesit Etiebet told the gathering that arrangements have been finalised by the State government for commencement of the exchange programme that will enable successful students from public schools in the village traveling to London for the Programme.
The Information Commissioner Ini Ememobong in concert with his education counterpart are coordinating the Programme