The Rivers State Government has reiterated its commitment to the provision of equitable access to Education in the State.

The State Governor, Nyesom Wike stated this while playing host to a delegation from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday, March 24, 2022.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, State Chief Executive said, “Basic Education is fundamental and our belief is that no single child should be out of school in Rivers State, as future leaders we need to equip our children and we need to encourage them”.

He urged the Commission to take cognizance of the need to have instruments for supervision, which include logistics such as vehicles and boats for monitoring and evaluation, stressing that these would enable personnel of the Commission and the State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB) to reach out to communities, especially, the riverine and remote communities, adding that there was a need to build permanent schools to accommodate those centers that have no known formal schools.

“We will give them the structure they need and of course, we need to incorporate and encourage ICT-driven education, so at the end of the day we will give them quality skills that will enable them to create jobs, earn jobs, and feel fulfilled in what they are doing, so we can have the leadership we need in the future when we are not there.”

Wike disagreed with the reports of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and National Population Commission (NPC), pointing out that the visitation of both agencies were mostly to households instead of learning centers, results from which may have been compromised, urging them to return and visit the actual learning centers and not households.

The Governor insisted that no child should be out of school, saying that basic education was key and the foundation to greater achievements, stressing that “when you build a child you have built a nation”.

In his response, the Leader of the delegation and Deputy Executive Secretary (Services), Dr. Isiaka Kolawole informed the Rivers State Governor that the UBEC officials were in the State in continuation of their advocacy visit to all the beneficiary States of the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) Programme.

Dr Kolawole commended the Rivers State Government and the State Universal Basic Education Board for its determination to improve the educational status of the State, stated that their mission was to ascertain and establish the status of the implementation of BESDA Programme in Rivers State and identify and discuss issues that are hindering the success and implementation of the World Bank sponsored programme.