By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
A Civil Society Organisation, Development Research and Projects Centre(DRPC) in partnership with Open Society Foundations has given a grant of N385,000 to the Government Technical College, Abak, in Akwa Ibom.
The grant according to the CSO was aimed at supporting technical schools across Nigeria to prepare exiting students for NABTEB Examinations which would commence on Monday 21st September 2020.
The Coordinator of dRPC, Dr. Judith-Ann Walker, represented by the Chairman of Akwamfon Sustainable Community Association, Idem Udoekong during the award presentation last weekend said the Government technical school was the only school in the State that applied for the grant.
Walker said the grant was part of efforts to complement and support the initiatives and vision of the State government in technical education adding that the funds would enable schools to procure Covid-19 personal protective equipments for students, convene extra lessons, buy textbooks and past question papers and other materials required for NABTEB Exams.
The Coordinator who expressed hope that the gesture would improve Students’ performance in the 2020 NABTEB examinations despite the challenges of Covid-19 noted that Akwamfon Community Association would be on ground to mentor and supervise the college to prepare its students for the exams.
“The program was launched on 8th September 2020 through advertisements in the national dailies and on NTA 9pm News. Since that time, over 100 schools have applied from 20 States of the Federation. Only one school applied from Akwa Ibom, Government Technical College Abak and this school was selected. In total, 32 schools were selected from all zones from Nigeria.” Walker explained.
Earlier in his remarks the Principal General of the College, Mr Friday Udoka thanked the donor agency, Open Society Foundations for the support and pledged to manage the grant judiciously for the benefit of the students.
