By Chisom Okpala :
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has reassured commitment in improving the quality of education in the state, aimed at putting Anambra educational system among the world best.
The Governor stated this while receiving members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Tetfund and other services at the State Government House, Awka.
Gov. Soludo represented by his Deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezimpeaking, noted that Anambra over the years has been accessing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) and it is being prudently put into good use.
According to him, Anambra is good in management of resources, every kobo given to the state is well accounted and judiciously utilized.
As part of his developmental achievements, especially in the area of education, the governor listed the introduction of free education among pupils and students in the state schools, employment of over 8,000 teachers, reconstruction of numerous schools’ facilities and others.
He commended President Tinubu and the leadership of the Federal House of Representatives for their intervention, while seeking for more funding through the Tetfund agency.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the committee, Hon. Miriam Onuoha, explained that the team is on a working visit to ascertain the level of accessing the tetfund intervention fund for the years under review (2020-2023).
She promised that the committee will avail its expertise with the stakeholders to ensure timely release of any outstanding and that of 2025 intervention fund, stressing that delay in approval and allocation of the fund can cause reduction in value due to inflation surge in the economy.
Also, in their separate interviews, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma- Udeh and the Vice Chancellor Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Kate Omenugha both described the visit as timely, saying that the education sector of the state is blooming with the recent introduction of free education that has brought education to the doorsteps of Ndi Anambra.
According to them, interventions such as Tetfund has contributed to development by providing conducive learning environment for pupils and students, as well as promoting research and development of staff at the tertiary level.
*Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State