Thebridgenewsonline No 1 News portal
Abia Govt lauds NNPC,TOTAL,over construction of School in Umuahia
The Abia State Government has lauded the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),TOTAL and its partners for constructing a fully equipped Model Secondary School in Community Secondary School,Umuahia.
Delivery his speech during the commissioning and handover ceremony of the newly built Model Secondary School,Old Umuahia,the Governor of the state,Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education,Dr Kanelechi Nwangwa, said the school project was a right step in a right direction, because education plays a pivotal role in nation’s building.
According to the Governor, Education forms a very important aspect of human life,as it helps in breeding our leaders of tomorrow.
Dr Ikpeazu who expressed joy over the project that has all the facilities in place,built for Abia children, disclosed that the government is already towing in that direction to give education its pride of place by solidifying the educational system in the state.
He said the school project cost alot to be completed, therefore,the school authority, the community, as well as the students, should put the facilities into optimum use, pleading for it not to be toyed with, so it could serve more children in the future.
Governor Ikpeazu, however, called on members of the community to ensure they secure the facility from being vandalized.
Also,the Managing Director TOTAL E&P Nigeria LTd, Mr Mike Sangster, who was represented by the Retail Sales Executive Aba,Mr Iti Obitere, said the completion and commissioning of this project was in furtherance of the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of the DeepWater operations of TOTAL.
He said TOTAL had adopted the entire country as host, especially regarding CSR programs and so far, the company has constricted over 33 projects in its 1st phase,while over 51 projects in its 2nd & 3rd phases are currently under construction.
According to Mr Sangster, the projects were borne out of the need to mitigate the gaps in qualitative and Technical Education, Maternal & Child Health, Access to clean water and women/youth Empowerment.
The TOTAL MD noted that the Old Umuahia Model School project, sits on 7,000m square and consists of two buildings,the Administrative block and the main school block,with the Administrative block well laid out, equipped and furnished offices for the principal,vice principal, secretary, as well as two other teachers and a sick bay with all its appurtenances and storage facilities, while the main school block consists of 12 classrooms, fully equipped for 40 students each,five state of the art Science Laboratories,two Libraries,one ICT Lab among other wonderful features.
He added that the complex comes with a complete integrated power supply to assure constant and uninterrupted power supply,60kva sound proof generator,15kva solar powered inverter, borehole with water reticulation,10 capacity car park facility,driveway,walkway, courtyard and a beautiful landscaping.
Mr Sangster while thanking their partners,NNPC,SAPETRO,PRIME AND CNOOC, for joining in the project by providing the means,the processes and the resources that enabled the local development projects, thanked the several stakeholders including the State and Local Governments,the beneficiary institution,as well as the project managers for their support.
He pleaded for the project to be sustained,so as to impact positively on the people, stating that they would be coming from time to time to assess the project and how it has helped and improved the lives of the school and the community at large.
In his speech, the Deputy Transition Committee chairman for Umuahia South,Hon Chibuzor Ejim,while appreciating the companies for choosing the Local Government to benefit from their corporate social responsibility and for embarking on people’s oriented projects, promised that the projects would be put into judicious use, adding that already a patrol team has been assigned to guild and secure the facility from vandals.
The President General Old Umuahia Development Union Federated and Overseas OUDU(F&O), Comr Chibuike Onuoha, thanked all those who contributed to the actualization of the project, assuring that the facility would be fully utilized, adding that the host community would protect the school from vandals in collaboration with the security operatives.
Comr Onuoha, however,used the opportunity to beg for qualified teachers,as well as professionals to be recruited into the school.
He added that indigenes of Old Umuahia be employed too, stating that it is their right as the host community,to fill the spaces and chances of levels 1-4.
Receiving the key,as well as the building plan of the school, the principal of the Senior Secondary School,Lolo Agwu Ugo, begged for adequate security,so that the efforts of their donors would not be in vain.
The Project Manager, Chumalex International Ltd,Engr Somto Mbamalu,led the Governor and his team,as well as other delegates of the community to commission and inspect the facility.
