~Donates 500 KVA generator to FTH, One block of three classrooms to each local government
The Gombe State Government has today launched the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Education Endowment Fund and the Scholarship Portal for people in the North East to benefit in exploring their potentials towards positive contributions.
Also performed was the ground breaking ceremony of a block of three classrooms in Government Day Comprehensive Junior Secondary School Kwami, Kwami Local Government Area as a pilot scheme to be provided in each local government. A new set of 500 KVA Generator was also donated to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe while 500 units of Houses are under construction at the Western Byepass for citizens in the zone.
Performing the Official Launch on behalf of the NEDC and the Federal Government, the Deputy Governor appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for establishing the North East Development Commission which has been contributing immensely to improving the lives of citizens in the North East.
“Ever since the establishment of the NEDC, it has pursued it’s mandate vigorously. One of the mandates is to ensure capacity building and human capital development, reduction of the high illiteracy rate, extreme poverty, among others. It is lamentable these undesirable experience and situations have worsened by the activities of the Boko Haram Group, most of whom are persons from this subregion. To the glory of God Almighty their activities is being checkmated and scaled down by security agencies, concerned citizens, volunteer groups, Governors of the North East.
“Gombe State has always been desirous to develop and not just to witness growth which is a natural phenomenon. Accordingly, the state has at all times shown the greatest political will to support, liase, cooperate and learn from development partners, the NEDC being no exceptions. For emphasis, let me acknowledge that the programmes, today covers education, shelter and capacity building human capacity development. All these relate the various goals of Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations,” he said.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruk said the activities of Boko Haram has created a set back in education sector, and compounded the poverty level and unemployment in the region.
Represented by her aide, Group Captain Sadiq Shehu (Rtd) the Minister explained that, the investment in education is aimed at changing the wrong ideologies of insurgents, reversing the level of illiteracy and unemployment among others.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali informed the gathering that, the commission is set to launch Education Endowment Fund and Scholarship Portal, as well as present starter packs to 198 Graduates of the ICT Training Programme.
He said the Commission has upgraded three schools in Gombe State, and is liasing with other sectors of the economy to know their areas of need for intervention.
Presenting an overview of the NEDC- EEF Programme, the Acting Chairperson Hajiya Asmau Mai Eka Mohammed explained that the Endowment Fund is to bridge the gap created by activities of Boko Haram, pointing out that the Fund intends to improve infrastructure, personnel and capacity Development among other things.
Goodwill messages were delivered by Commissioner of Science and Technology, Gombe State, Dr. Aisha Maigari, Commissioner of Education Bauchi state, Dr. Aliyu Tilde and Executive Secretary, Scholarship Board Yobe State Dr. Abba Kagu appreciating the NEDCs interventions in the North East.
The Executive Director, Humanitarian Affairs, Alh. Musa Umar Yashi anchored the unveiling of Scholarship Portal while the Executive Director Operations anchored the presentation of starter packs and certificates to graduates of ICT Training.
The Dignitaries were later at Kwami Government Day Comprehensive Junior Secondary School where they performed the Ground Breaking ceremony for a block of three classrooms. While at Western Byepass, they inspected the ongoing construction of 500 houses and at Federal Teaching Hospital they performed the presentation of 500 KVA generator for use in the hospital.
The Board Chairman Federal Teaching Hospital, Dr. Felix Ogedegbe, and the Chief Medical Director FTH, Dr. Yusuf Mohammed Abdullahi appreciated the gesture of the NEDC and assured of judicious use of the generator.
The Deputy Governor appreciated the support and appealed for extension of the gesture to the State Hospitals in Gombe, calling on the Hospital Management to imbibe maintanance culture.
The graduates and beneficiaries of Starter Packs, Jamilu Ibrahim and Samaila Danjuma appreciated the NEDC for assisting them and creating them a means of livelihood pledging to make good use of the opportunity given them.
Highlight of the occasion include cultural dance by the State Cultural Troupe and Ngwarda Dancers from Yamaltu Deba Local Government.
