By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has granted scholarship to four pupils of public schools who were part of the team that represented Nigeria in Jakarta, Indonesia, and came top in a Bilateral Debate competition.
Governor Alia who received the victorious representatives at the Government House Makurdi on Monday expressed joy at the performances of the students, saying, it is the beginning of a turn around for the hitherto abandoned public schools in the State.
The four students from Benue State: Ruth Suurshater, Sonia Aduba, Ogenyi Favour, and Samuel Ochara were part of the team that represented the country at the Bilateral International Debate competition organized for basic education learners under the auspices of the President, and School Debate Nigeria.
Beaming with happiness, Governor Alia said, “I will not lament about paucity of fund especially on issues of education and development. Let me assure that all Benue kids will be given equally opportunity to travel internationally, in order to make the state proud”.
The governor congratulated the students, their parents, coaches, the Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, and the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Frederick Kyaan, for their efforts and supports while the students and coaches were on this national assignment.
Governor Alia then announced that the government has taken over the payment of tuition fees for the four students up to their first degree level. A reward of 4 million naira each to the students, 3 Million naira each to the Coaches, while 10 Laptop Computers each to schools.
Earlier, SUBEB Chairman, Dr. Grace Adagba, appreciated the governor for supporting the Benue State team to go and represent the country in Indonesia.
She pointed out that, one significant thing to note is that, all of the students were selected from public schools such as: SUBEB-UBEC Smart school, Adaka, Arabic Junior School and LGEA School Owner Occupier, all in Makurdi.
The SUBEB Chairman appealed to stakeholders, parents and the general public to encourage the enrollment of children into public schools in the State, saying, change has come.
