The Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that the present administration in the state is committed to education as the key to the future of not just the state, but of any society.

Senator Okowa, in a goodwill message at the 2019 World Teachers Day in Asaba yesterday (05/10/2019), stated that this explains why the education sector is taken seriously in the state.

Represented by the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, the governor disclosed that incentive packages have been put in place to encourage the pursuit of higher education by Deltans, particularly in science, information and communication technology.

He called on teachers at all levels to pay attention to Information Communication Technology, as it is increasingly becoming the pivot around which the future inevitably revolves.

The Governor noted that the responsibility for making teaching desirable is on government, unions and teachers and as stakeholders in the development of education, it is incumbent on them to excel in what they do in meeting the challenge.

In his address, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Nadir Idris, represented by the 3rd National Vice Chairman, Comrade Bashiu Oyewo, said that the issue of shortage of teachers has remained a major challenge in the education system, adding that reports from practitioners indicate an alarming rate of retirement of teachers without a corresponding recruitment to fill the gap.

The Chairman of Delta State wing of the union, Comrade Titus Okotie, said that the theme of this year’s celebration ‘Young Teachers, The Future Of The Profession’ is very apt as it is a clarion call on government at all levels to save the teaching profession from eminent collapse by recruiting young teachers into public schools.

The state Head of Service, Mr. Reginald Bayoko, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Mike Okeme, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State Council, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, delivered goodwill messages during the ceremony.

Teachers from the 25 Local Government Areas in the state participated in the march past that was a highlight of the occasion.

•PHOTO: From right: Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Ochor Ochor, state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, who represented the state Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, state Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Titus Okotie, 3rd National Vice Chairman of NUT, Comrade Bashiu Oyewo, and the Special Adviser to Governor Okowa on Labour Relations, Comrade Mike Okeme, during the 2019 World Teachers Day celebration in Asaba yesterday.

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