Investigatorsnews

By Joyce Onuora, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State Government has promised to send about 100 first Class and 2nd Class Upper Graduates to their choice countries for further studies.

While 300 other students are expected to benefit from scholarships for master Degree studies in their choice institutions in Nigeria. 

Governor Francis Nwifuru made the promise Sunday November 19, 2023 when the Catholic Bishop of Diocese of Abakaliki, the Most Reverend Dr Peter Chukwu made a Pastoral Visit to the Government House Chapel, Ochoudo Centenary City.

According to Gov. Nwifuru, he said "Ebonyi is badly challenged in the area of education and we have agreed, during the State Exco meeting that, we are going to send 100 first Class and Second Class Upper Graduates to Countries of their choice to further their education; and when they return, they will help in teaching in our Schools"; in same vein, "We will also offer Scholarships to 300 persons for their Master degree studies in any Institutions of their choice within Nigeria.

"We have a lot of challenges in the education sector and as far as I am concerned, we shall surmount it by engaging quality teachers in our Primary and Secondary Schools.

The Governor also promised to return all Mission schools back to their original owners before the end of the year.

Gov. Francis Nwifuru appreciated the Catholic Bishop for his Pastoral visit, to bless the congregation of the Government House Chapel, assuring the Bishop of his readiness to carry the Church along in his administration no matter the denomination.

The Governor used the opportunity to admonish the Clergy against meddling into politics, saying their primary duty should be to preaching salvation to mankind.

Governor Nwifuru who was responding to an appeal by the Bishop acknowledged that Catholic Church is strategic in the attainment of quality teaching and learning in schools in the State. He directed the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary education and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to immediately commence the process of handing over of the Schools back to the Missions.

Earlier, the Catholic Bishop, Diocese of Abakaliki, the Most Reverend Dr Peter Nworie Chukwu commended Governor Nwifuru for the positive steps so far taken in his administration and reassured him of the readiness of the Catholic Church under his leadership to support the Governor to achieve his goals for the State.

The Bishop called on the political class and government officials to cooperate with the Governor to bequeath enduring legacies on the sands of time.

"Today's reading is an invitation to all Government Officials to do all you can to rally round and assist Governor Nwifuru to achieve his goals for Ebonyi State.

"We are going to cooperate with the Governor to turn around Ebonyi State, so that Ebonyi can become a shining example among the committee of States in Nigeria.

"In the area of Education, the Church is ready to work with the Government, those Schools formerly owned by the Catholic Church that were forcefully taken away from us after the Nigeria Civil War, the Governor knows our feelings about them." END