Akwa Ibom State students have commended the administration of Governor Umo Eno for its interventions in the education sector and various initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and development of students across the state.
The commendation was made yesterday during the Akwa Ibom State Student Leaders’ Engagement and Appreciation Roundtable, organised with the theme, “Strengthening Student Leadership, Partnership and Opportunities for Student Development” in Uyo.
Setting the tone for the event, the Personal Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Affairs, Comrade Dr. Wisdom Emmanuel, commended the students for maintaining unity and peaceful relations within the students’ community, noting that the gathering provided an opportunity for them to acknowledge the impact of government interventions on their welfare.
One of the key areas he highlighted was the progressive increase in the state’s bursary payment, which, according to him, had risen from N10,000 to N20,000 and subsequently to N50,000.
“Many students reached out across the various associations to appreciate His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, for the bursary payment.
“First, it was N10,000; when it worked, His Excellency increased it to N20,000, and now this year, it is N50,000.”
Dr. Emmanuel also drew attention to the Governor’s scholarship interventions for outstanding students, including support for students pursuing their studies outside the country.
He said such interventions has demonstrated the administration’s willingness to recognise academic excellence and provide opportunities for students to further their education.
He further cited developments in the education sector, including the construction of model primary schools equipped with modern learning facilities, the payment of salaries of teachers and lecturers, and the upgrade and expansion of programmes in the state’s tertiary institutions.
According to him, the transformation in the education sector has also created an avenue for more students to access programmes and facilities that would enhance their academic development.
Dr. Emmanuel said the students’ appreciation was also connected to the broader interventions of the administration, adding that the student community has witnessed several initiatives targeted at young people and other segments of the population.
He urged student leaders to remain focused on the purpose of leadership and to see their positions as opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the development of their institutions and communities.
Also speaking, the President of NAAKISS Worldwide, Comrade Torobong Obong, appreciated Governor Eno for his interventions in the students’ community and what she described as efforts to restore confidence and pride in the NAAKISS Worldwide body.
Comrade Obong particularly commended the government for the payment of bursaries and the steady increase in the amount in response to changing economic conditions.
She also noted that the scholarship support provided to outstanding students demonstrated that academic excellence could attract meaningful support, urging students to take their studies more seriously.
“The scholarship support to two of our students is a proof that academic excellence can still be rewarded.
“This is a wake-up call to the students’ body to sit up and excel academically.”
She further appreciated the administration for interventions in model primary schools, ICT centres and teacher empowerment, as well as efforts to include students living with disabilities in its programmes.
The NAAKIS president said the various interventions has contributed to creating a more supportive environment for students and encouraged continued collaboration between government and student leaders.
Goodwill messages were delivered by Comrade Asuabiat Ime, SUG President, Federal Polytechnic, Ukana; Comrade Christian Bassey, Coordinator, Renewed Hope Students; Ephraim Etim, President, Niger Delta Students Union; Comrade Inibehe Udio, Sports Director, NANS; and Comrade Edidiong Udoh.
They commended the Governor for his interventions in students’ welfare, particularly the payment of bursaries and initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for young people.
The speakers also noted the administration’s efforts in promoting peace within the state and the students’ community, while acknowledging the support given to student leadership and academic development.
Some of the student representatives, however, used the occasion to make further requests to the state government. These included improved mobility for the students’ body to facilitate movement between institutions, rehabilitation of tourism sites and attention to outstanding bursary payments for students in private tertiary institutions.
The engagement brought together student leaders and stakeholders to appreciate the administration’s interventions while providing a platform for students to express their concerns and make recommendations for further collaboration between government and the students’ community.
