Thousands of teachers across Enugu State have trooped out to express their appreciation to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi over what they described as the robust welfare and packages they’ve been enjoying under his leadership, and to also endorse the senatorial aspiration and that of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barr. Peter Mbah.
The excited teachers who recently disclosed this at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, during their annual Teachers Summit with the theme, “The Role of Teachers in Nation Building”, further explained that their decision to support Governor Ugwuanyi for senate and Barr. Peter Mbah for governor was because of the priority the current administration had given to education and the better welfare of teachers enabled by the government.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB) who is also a philanthropist and grassroots mobilizer, said that teachers play tremendous and important role in nation building through their sacrifices in the upbringing of students by impacting both moral values and knowledge-based skills in them.
She lauded the development strides of the governor in the 17 local government areas, stressing that teachers across the state, including secondary schools, are huge beneficiaries of the robust, excellent and good governance programmes of the administration.
According to her, secondary schools under Governor Ugwuanyi are wearing a new look, with construction and equipment of more classroom blocks, modern facilities such as computers, digital boards, Internet facilities, and electrification of some of the schools.
The chairman also disclosed that the governor had been paying salaries and pensions of teachers, including the release of appointments and promotions of staff in due time, adding that Barr. Mbah would continue from where the governor would stop.
“Barr. Peter Mbah is a man tested and trusted with the capacity to lead the state to envious heights. He has the competence to transform the education sector and promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics with his topnotch rating manifesto.
“We are here today to assure you of our support and to tell you we will be voting for you on the day of election.
“This annual summit has afforded us the opportunity to meet with you and to here from you. We don’t have any doubt as to what you can do for teachers, and that’s why the teachers insisted that you must come and address them.
“They have shown they love you and will vote for your victory because they know where you are coming from and what you can do,” the PPSMB chairman , added.
In a related development, a group of women in the state, Enugu Women Prayer Network, had also converged both on the Enugu State capital and Nsukka town to pray for the success of the Enugu North Senatorial Zone’s candidate, and also the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP at the forthcoming elections.
The women, numbering thousands, with the Okpara Square and the Nsukka Township Stadium filling to capacities, prayed that God would continue to bless the state with good leaders, even as they said Barr. Mbah would make a better governor if and when elected.
Speaking earlier, some of the teachers at the summit stated that they were glad with the manifesto of Barr. Mbah because it not only addressed the welfare of teachers but also provided for a more conducive and encouraging learning environment for teachers and students.
The teachers said they were ready to key into Barr. Mbah’s educational agenda such as the cut-off policy meant at catching school children at the age of 4, vocational and technical schools for practical skills, and explore other modern knowledge.
According to them, the Dr. Favour had already started the transition phase through the numerous trainings, workshops and summits the PPSMB had been organizing to empower them, adding that they would use their population to give the PDP frontline governorship candidate massive victory.
Responding to the large numbers of teachers, Barr. Mbah expressed his profound appreciation for the massive support and solidarity given to his candidacy.
Barr. Mbah, while promising to partner with the teachers to enhance quality and affordable education for students, maintained that under his leadership, teacher’s welfare will continue to receive attention.
He urged them not to relent in pushing for a better future of students through hardwork, resilience and dedication to duties even as said he would build on the outstanding foundation already laid down by the governor in the education sector.
While calling on the teachers to keep faith with the PDP, the ruling party’s candidate enjoined them to come out in their huge population and overwhelmingly vote for him and other candidates of the party on the 25 of February and 11 of March, respectively.
On his part, the governor commended the teachers for their attitude towards learning, training and passion for their job, noting that Enugu students had been emerging first position in the national and international examinations.
He recalled that his administration had done well in the education sector through a number of changes and innovation that had reformed the sector, including massive investment in new infrastructure in education.
The governor who promised that his would-be successor, Barr. Mbah would do better than him when he assumes office, appealed to the gathering to continue to support the government as better packages that would improve the standard of living of the teachers will continue to roll out from their administration
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