Imo State Commissioner of Science, Technology and Vocational Education, Hon. Emma Bukar Iwuanyanwu said one of the major reasons Governor Rochas Anayo Okorocha created the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Education is to make the state a technological hub in the country and a paperless society by 2020.
The commissioner stated this during a visit by students of Nigeria Army College of Logistics Course 15, 2018 to Ministry of Education, which has been split into three ministries: Basic and Secondary Education, Tertiary Education and Science Technology and Vocational Education ministries.
In a statement, the ministry’s Public Relations Officer Sunday Orisakwe, stated that Iwuayanwu explained that his Ministry is saddled with ensuring quality science, technical and vocational education and also to make Imo the technological hub. He said Owelle Okorocha went to even greater lengths by establishing Information Communication Technology (ICT) centres in the 27 local government areas, which are functional. He said it is the Ministry’s duty to standardise privately-owned computer and ICT centres in the state.
To create awareness among science students in the state, Iwuayanwu said the ministry is putting arrangements in place to conduct the first-ever science quiz contest among students of secondary schools. Iwuayanwu solicited a partnership between the Army College of Logistics and the ministry to give Imo youths the knowledge in science and technology that will help them confront the challenges of the century.
Also welcoming the Nigeria Army College of Logistics students to the Ministry was the Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Gertrude Oduka who expressed her gratitude to the Army College of Logistics for visiting Imo State. She said Imo is associated with Education. She told the Army College of Logistics Students that one sector in which the Governor is so passionate about is the education sector. Hon. Oduka said at the inception of the present administration of Governor Rochas Okorocha, the Governor promised Imolites that he is going to give them free Education and this he has done and have lived up to that promise. She said there was a time mothers in Imo State sold their wrappers to pay school fees for their children but that the administration of Rochas Okorocha has given Imo people free education from primary to university level, a feat that has never been achieved in the history of the state. She said there has been an enrollment explosion into primary and secondary schools because parents find it easier to send their children to school. She further explained that apart from been free, the education is also qualitative, which has enhanced the State’s performance in WAEC and JAMB. She stated that presently the state has 80 per cent public schools and 20 percent Private schools.
Also welcoming the Logistics students, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education Prof. Emenalo Chizoba told the students that the Governor in his wisdom dimmed it important to split the Education Ministry into three in order to focus on the importance of all aspect of Education in the State. She said Tertiary Education in the State has been given lots of attention in order for the State to accommodate thousands of Imo youths who are seeking for tertiary education.