UNICEF Partners Adamawa State Govt to Build 80 Blocks of 158 Classrooms in Adamawa

Daily Rendezvous

The Adamawa state governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has flagged off the reconstruction and renovation of eighty (80) blocks of about one hundred and fifty eight (158) classrooms in Fufore and Guyuk local governments of Adamawa state.

Fintiri said the renovation and construction of the schools by UNICEF is in consistence with the state governments policy thrust of revamping the education sector in the state after it has suffered decades of neglect and that the project fits into his government's agenda of making equal opportunities in education available to all.

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri made the remarks at the flag off ceremony of the construction in Fufore local government, in Adamawa state.

Fintiri said, the Adamawa state government is ready to partner with relevant donor bodies in order to make basic education affordable and a reality for Adamawa common man and in order to afford every child in the state the opportunity to compete with his counterparts everywhere across the globe.

Fintiri said, "Let me start by appreciating the enormous task before us of ensuring that Basic Education is made available to every child in Adamawa State. 

"We can only achieve this by ensuring that the learning environment is safe and conducive for the children. 

  

"That was why I started by declaring a State-of-Emergency on the Basic Education right from inception. 

"For us in Adamawa State, we have a duty to compliment the efforts of the UNICEF and other donor organizations by ensuring that every Kobo counts. 

"We cannot afford any waste; therefore accountability is required of you all. Because my administration knows the value of Basic Education, I have made it an utmost priority, a commitment to which I have started and will carry to the end.,

Fintiri explained that, "If I can succeed in ensuring that Children are catered for and given the opportunity to acquire quality education I will be the happiest man, because whatever achievement I may record will amount to nothing if there will be no one to carry on the good works tomorrow. 

"Our greatest asset is the children and educating them properly is the surest way to preserve the asset. 

I want to use this opportunity to call on parents and community leaders to ensure that children are enrolled in schools when schools resume. 

It will be of no use to build and furnish Classrooms only to leave them without pupils. 

"Personally I have no reason to relegate education to the background because without education none of us would have been where we are today. That is why for every child equal opportunity in life is important."

Speaking at the occasion, the Executive Chairman of Adamawa State Universal Education Board, Salihi Ateequ, lauds UNICEF's timely and critical intervention in Adamawa state saying it would go a long way in impacting education in the state and that it would lead to positive outcomes in schools in the state where learning spaces have been lacking.

Ateequ said, "UNICEF is renovating and reconstructing about 80 blocks of 165 classes, one perimeter fencing of about 256 metres, two blocks of three laterines toilet for male and female students in Fufore and Guyuk local governments of Adamawa state.

"By the time these constructions are completed, it would bridge the deficit of learning spaces across the state and it would lead to improvements in learning and education for pupils in the state.

"This is just the beginning of the series of commissioning that would be ongoing in this board and we hope His Excellency will be honouring us from time to time in flagging off these projects."

Speaking at the occasion, the chief of Field Officer, Unicef Field Office Bauchi, Bhanu Pathak said, "This is an important project that will result in the renovation and construction of eighty schools in Fufore and Guyuk local governments in this phase before the end of 2020.

"Another set of schools will be considered in Hong, Mubi north, Mubi south local governments respectively, ultimately contributing to quality education outcomes in Adamawa state at this level."

Pathak added that, "In recognition of the important role education plays in the development of a nation and also in tandem with its mandate of promoting, advocating and contributing to the fulfilment of the rights of children, including the right to quality education, UNICEF is committed to partnering with the Adamawa state government to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Education for All (EFA) goals of educating all children at all levels and in groups."