Enugu East LG earmarks N300m for human capital development

The Enugu East Council Area says it has earmarked N300 million annually for human capital development of its youth through education.

The Council Chairman, Pastor Beloved-Dan Anike, disclosed this on Friday after meeting with the School principals in the council area.

He said that the measure was to enable them to compete globally.

Anike also announced the payment of registration fees of West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) for no fewer than 2,000 students in public secondary schools in the area.

He said the council had already passed the human capital development bye-law that provided N25 million monthly.

“When you multiply it, it will amount to N300 million annually.’’

Anika said it would help to attain Gov. Peter Mbah’s proposed 4.4 billion dollars to 30 billion dollars economy in the next four to eight years by increasing state’s Gross Domestic Product.

“We have just finished meeting with principals of 13 Secondary Schools in Enugu East where we made payment of their WAEC and NECO fees across board, both indigenes and non-indigene resident in Enugu public secondary schools.

“From the data they gave, we will be paying for no fewer than 2,000 students of their WAEC, NECO and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).’’

The council boss also pledged to pay for their Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams as well as begin extra lesson in every secondary school to support the students to perform well in the exams.

He said he identified the pivotal role education played in taking people out of poverty and preparing them with requisite skills that would help them make right decisions for their lives.

“I am not saying that certification is enough to get empowered but beyond it; it will enable them to take decisions and acquire the right skills.

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“We have ambition of preparing our future leaders to become globally competitive, which is why we are investing in human capital development.

“We just finished ‘Our Better Tomorrow Scholarship Scheme’ where 50 selected intelligent students were supported and our target is to assist the urban poor as we are looking at social impact of our action,” he said.

Speaking, the Principal, Community Secondary School, Ugwogo Nike, Enugu, Dr Gregory Agada, expressed happiness over the gesture, saying it would go a long way in solving the challenges of education in Enugu East Council Area.

“With this step in the next two years, no parent will be thinking of sending their children and wards to private schools and I want other local governments to emulate this singular act.

“Sometimes, when it comes to WAEC registration, some parents who are poor will not be able to pay for their children making them to drop out of school; but this measure Anike introduced will allow every SS3 student to participate in WAEC and NECO exams,” he said.

NAN