The Governor of Nasarawa State Engr A. A. Sule has revealed why his administration places premium on science and technical education in the state.
The Governor who spoke at the 10th Combined convocation ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa which held on Saturday, 18 June, 2022 noted that the objective was to boost innovation and self-employment for the socio-economic development of the state and the Nigerian nation at large.
The Governor who stressed that because education remains the bedrock of our society, our administration places high premium particularly on the development of science and technical education.
“This is based on our conviction that technical education is a sure way for socio economic develop and self- independence. It is in this connection that we established the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim vocational and skills acquisition centre in Lafia while we also continue to promote and equip as well as develop science and technical education throughout the state”, he said
“This is geared towards realising common objectives to help equip people with necessary skills for self-employment and actualisation as well as promoting science and technology and innovation in the state”, he added
Gov. Sule noted that as part of the commitment to promote science education in the state, the administration approved the establishment of the faculties of Medical Sciences and Engineering at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, revealing that necessarily ground works had been completed for the takeoff of the faculties.
“The Faculty of Engineering is intended to focus on impetus to drive the technical advancement of the state. This is with a view to give our citizens the opportunity To acquire science and technical education for social economic and industrial development,” he said.
The governor who commended the long outstanding partnership between the state and the polytechnic in the developmental strides of the state government, said it demonstrates their collective resolve towards creating opportunities for the people through technical education.
Gov. Sule who was one of the six eminent Nigerians bestowed with the institution’s fellowship award appreciated the decision to confer honorary award on him.
“I Wish to appreciate the decision of the polytechnic to confer on me the fellowship of the institution in recognition of our modest effort towards the development of education in the state.
“I also want to, on behalf of the other awardees, appreciate all the kind comments and the recognition of the various our awardees for what we have seen today of this fellowship.
“I was honoured to be a recipient of the Fellowship of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa (FPN), adding that he felt humbled by the recognition.
“And I assure you that this gesture will remain in my memory, and will spur me to remain committed to my commitment to enhance the development of technical education in the state,” he said while expressing appreciation appreciation to the management of the federal Polytechnic for its contributions towards the manpower development of the state and the country at large.
He charged the graduands to use the knowledge and skills acquired for socio-economic development, saying “Let me commend the governing council, management and the entire staff of the polytechnic for this historic event. I congratulate all the graduates whose convocation we are witnessing today. It is my belief that the knowledge and skills which you have acquired during your studies will be necessary tools for accelerating your career development, and by extension add value to the technological, industrial and socio-economic development of our dear nation.”
The governor used the occasion to call on all well-meaning citizens to invest in the education of children
“We are particularly convinced that given the ever increasing revolution in the technology world, we have a responsibility to give our children the desired science and technical education that can widen their horizons towards enriching the dynamics of global trends and technological development,” he said
Gov. Sule, reiterated that towards realising the potentials technical education towards the development of the nation’s economy, government at all level are working in synergy to ensure that the educational sector particularly science and technical education received the utmost attention.
“I therefore call on all and sundry to invest in education of our children. I also call on individual philanthropists and corporate organisations in the society as well as various individuals to continue to contribute for the development of not only the polytechnic but our institutions in general, especially in the areas of scholarship to our children.
The governor on behalf of Nasarawa State Government made a donation of N50 million to aid the polytechnic in providing and equipping an Engineering Workshop which had been lacking in the institution.
“Let me digress because I kept asking to see which area that we can contribute as we arrived in this institution, and I was actually told that one of the areas that this school is lacking in is a workshop for engineering, and I know in the workshop for mechanical engineering for instance, you need different kinds of machines, such as sewing machines, drilling machines, CNC machines and the rest of them. And with that I want to announce that Nasarawa State Government is making a donation of 50 million naira towards what you are going to do,” he said.