By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
The Akwa Ibom Government has redeemed a pledge of N79M to four students of the state origin who secured admission into the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria to study piloting.
It has also scored the immediate past Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel high in lifting the standard of education through students- friendly educational policies and welfare programmes, which saw the Students from the State excelling in national and international competitions.
At the occasion in Uyo, state Commissioner for education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet said the amount would cover for the entire duration of their studies at the college.
“It is because of the Governor’s big-heartedness that we are here today. We need to have our own pilots and air controllers as we have the best and only State-owned airline in Africa.
“We have Wilson Ezekiel Wilson standard pilot Course -SP35, Daniel Priscilla Samuel, SP35, Edna Emem, Akpan, SP35, Udourom Michael Patrick, Standard Air Traffic Control.
Mrs Etiebet described as untrue, allegations by a local newspaper in the State against the former Governor, saying it was wrong to quote her in such a biased report when she never granted an interview to the said newspaper.
“Two days ago, a newspaper “The Mail” carried a news stating that I granted an interview where I said that the immediate past Governor didn’t do anything in the Education sector.
“I want to say that I didn’t grant any interview, my Permanent secretary is here, the information officers are here. At no point did we have any interview with any Media house on Education in the last administration, that report was totally untrue”, she added.
“Former Governor Emmanuel granted scholarships to indigent students, subsidized school fees in state owned tertiary institutions, sponsored several categories of students in specialized fields notably maritime safety, aviation and meteorological studies, to trainings within and outside the country.
“Our students came out in flying colours in several competitions because of the quality of education in the State and several schools where given a facelift in infrastructure, which is why accreditation was restored in various courses in all the State – owned tertiary institutions. and it is really unfair for any true journalist to come out and castigate the previous administration in Education.
“Government is a continuum and Governor Umo Eno is pursuing Education advancement with renewed vigour, awarding scholarship and bursaries, building model schools and buying shoes, bags and books for school children.” She explained.
Earlier, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Humanitarian Service , Mr Nsikanabasi Umoekpo said that Governor was moved with compassion after his wife, Mrs Patience Umo Eno showed him a viral video Priscilla made on the social media and urged them to study hard and become good ambassadors of the state.
