The governor of Akwa Ibom state Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has directed the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, to make available Ten Million Naira to all graduands of the Nigerian Navy Military School that made the silent and the unarmed drills so that they can have happy hour after a very serious season and after every warfar.
He has again directed Mrs Etiebet, to make available two hundred and fifty thousand naira to each of the four best graduating students.
The directive was contained in his address at the graduation and passing out ceremonies of the 1st batch of graduating students of the Nigerian Navy Military School, Ikot Ntuen in Oruk Anam LGA, Akwa Ibom State, south south Nigeria.
Gov. Eno who had earlier been led on a tour of facilities in the school, in the company of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ogalla, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral O K Oluwagbire, and the Commandant of the Nigerian Navy Military School, Oruk Anam, Capt A. A. Yabo, during the ceremony, announced the donation of a one storey building to address the accommodation need of the institution.
Eno’s remarks which was full of praises during the ceremony, thanked the Navy for choosing Akwa Ibom for the establishment of the College.
He said that the Navy Military School was established to groom young able bodied boys with the right mix of academic excellence, values and discipline.
“We have also been told that they are in need of staff Quarters so as to bring in all of their staff. And I am told we have done about eight buildings including the laboratories, hostels, halls and pipe borne water. We will continue to support what we have seen here today.The Government of Akwa Ibom State is donating one storey building block to support them,” he continued.
“We have also seen the outstanding works that they have done, I have had conversations with the Commandant of the school, he is doing extremely well with his teaching staff and we will be celebrating the commandant and the teaching staff,” Eno promised.
“We will establish model primary schools across the three Senatorial Districts and later, ten Federal constituencies. The model of the school will soon be opened at the Christ The king Primary School at Wellington Bassey Way , close to Government House because charity must begin at home.
Gov. Eno who used the occasion to congratulate the young sailors on their successful completion of their academic programme and military training spanning six years, advocated for the introduction of some elements of military training in the state conventional schools to instill discipline in the students.
“As you all know, education is not preparation for life, but life itself, which is the reason why education advancement is a critical pillar of our ARISE Agenda,” Pastor Eno said.
“We are determined to provide conducive learning environments, align the curriculum with the realities of the ICT, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts and produce future graduates that will compete with their pears elsewhere in the country.”
Reiterating his commitment to making Education at both Primary and Secondary levels free and compulsory for public schools across the state, he said that his administration has paid West African Examination Council, WAEC, fees for students in public schools in the state.
“Let me add that because of the outstanding performance that we have seen today amongst this set of junior sailors, we will, as part of our supports to the school undertake to pay next year WAEC fees for all of our students that will be from this school,” Eno said.
“Finally, let me Congratulate you and wish you the very best in the future, both in your academics and in your military pursuits.”
He continued, “I have no doubt that you will be great ambassadors of this school, the State and the Nation. Wherever the journey of life takes you, please don’t forget that you had your training in Akwa Ibom and always remember Akwa Ibom as you move along.”
The graduation ceremony which had the top brass in the Nigerian Navy, led by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, featured awards presentation to the young sailors in the areas of Best in Academics won by Ys Edozie Chibuike; Best in Military Courses,Ys Abdullahi Yusuf ; Best in Regimentation, Ys Umahaba Enoch; Best in Leadership Ys Muhammed Sadiq and Overall in Academics and Military Training, Ys Edozie Chibuike.