By Abel Leonard
Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has revealed how his administration is reaching out to corporate organizations and individuals to help renovate dilapidated schools in the state.Engineer Sule disclosed this while hosting national officials of the Lafia Old Students Association (LOSA), who came on a courtesy call, at the Government House, today
The Governor said his administration resorted to thinking outside the box, reaching out to willing donors to help rebuild dilapidated scholls because the state lack the resources to renovate all the public schools in need of urgent attention.
While lamenting the level of decay and dilapidation of especially public secondary schools, the Governor said he couldn’t afford to fold his arms and to wait until the economy of the state improves before embarking on massive school renovations, recounted that he was nearly moved to shedding tears when he came face to face with the level of dilapidation at the GGSSS Garaku, with students supporting the roof with wooden beams so as to stop the ceiling crashing on them.
Engineer Sule said the terrible conditions of most public schools in the state, explained the decision of his administration to approach willing donors who will assist the state in carrying out corporate social responsibility in the area of school renovation and refurbishment.
As a result of this, he disclosed that Keystone Bank committed close to N100m in renovating the Government Girls Science Secondary School Garaku, with other organizations taking up the responsibility to renovate and refurbish the Nasarawa Broadcasting Service (NBS), Government Science School Lafia and Government Secondary School Akurba.
In his word he said “I visited the Government Science School Lafia when it was raining and I realized it was worst than when I first visited. A school In the state capital, in a state that an Engineer is the Governor, who believe in science and technology, I was ashamed of myself,” Engineer Sule recounted.
The Governor explained that his administration did not spend a single kobo while renovating the two schools, stressing the need for leaders to be creative especially as the state is facing economic challenges.”If the state does not have the money, we must think outside the box,” he stated.
While charging the officials and members of the LOSA to equally think outside the box, with a view to lending support in rebuilding their alma mater to regain its past glory, Engineer Sule expressed appreciation that all those coming to the aid of the state are doing so with no strings attached.Earlier, in an opening remarks, LOSA National President, Engineer Rabiu Al-Tanko Umaisha, said officials of the body were at the Government House to show appreciation to the Governor for his efforts aimed at renovating all dilapidated educational institutions in the state.The LOSA President added that they visited the Governor to thank him on behalf of all members of the association for his determination to renovate their alma mater, stressing that they are proud of the achievements of the Governor within the short span of a year.
