The Edo State Government has assured that the Northernmost Local Government Area of the State regarded as the oldest unbroken local government area in the entire country, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, will benefit from the State’s tertiary multi- campus policy.
This assurance was given by the State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe at a recent meeting with critical stakeholders from Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency.
The session was jointly organized by Akoko-Edo Forum and the Edo State Ministry of Education in light of the exclusion of the Constituency from those to benefit from the recently announced multi-campus program by the Governor.
Dr. Joan Oviawe stated that a campus of a tertiary institution will soon come to the LGA but could not put a time frame on it because according to her only the Governor can make such a weighty commitment.
“I understand the pain and sense of neglect you feel but be rest assured Mr. Governor has Akoko-Edo as one of the top LGAs in his development agenda”, she said
Earlier, in his welcome address, a member of Akoko-Edo Forum leadership, Dr. Richard Bagudu, thanked the commissioner for coming to address the immediate concerns of Akoko-Edo people within the short time of the request. He used the opportunity to address the challenges facing the oldest government division since 1954, which has remained untouched since creation. This sad commentary is reflected by the fact that it is the only federal Constituency without a tertiary institution in the State. Coupled with this is the near-total collapse of both primary and secondary schools in the LG.
The commissioner also promised to immediately investigate the issue bedeviling the National Teachers Institute in Igarra, which is on the verge of closure due to lack of funding and low level of awareness of the existence of such facility in the locality.