Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson on Friday received a rousing welcome upon his return to the state after spending few weeks abroad for his annual vacation.
Although he officially resumed on Monday, but the governor has been in the nation’s capital Abuja attending to series of official engagements.
Dickson went straight to the Ijaw National Academy in Kaima to formally bring to an end the 2017 summer class and was cheered by a large crowd of supporters made up of women and youth groups.
The summer class was organized by the state government for all senior secondary 3 students of the state model schools as part of ways to engage them during the long vacation and prepare them for the 2017/2018 academic session.
While appreciating the organizers of the summer programme, the governor announced that henceforth it will become an annual exercise because of how beneficial the maiden edition has turned out to be.
He used the occasion to remind the students of the huge and strategic investments the government has been making to reposition the education sector and equally disclosed that beginning from the start of the new term this month, another compulsory boarding model school will kick off.
“Because of the importance we attach to your future and all the investment we are making in education, that is why I decided to stop here before proceeding to Government House. When they told me today was the last day for the programme I said I will like to be part of it.
“The reason the government approved this programme is that we want to go higher in every external examination. We are proud of the success story so far, especially in WAEC but we can do better next year”.
Gov. Dickson admonished the students to shun social vices and be good ambassadors of the state as they prepare to take over as future leaders, noting that it is only when they do that the total revolution the government is making in education will become more meaningful.
Earlier in his welcome address, the summer camp programme manager, Mr George Egi who is also the Principal of Nembe National Grammar School commended the governor for making education his top priority and listed some of the dividends of the summer programme.
He added that the one month given was properly utilized, as some students who were not exposed to any form of practical classes, can now enjoy practical classes and identify various specimens, same goes to the arts students. He commended the education commissioner and his team for their show of support.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Education, Elder Markson Fefegha said the programme further broadened the knowledge of the students in key subjects and applauded the governor for agreeing to sponsor it.
Highlights of the day was drama and dance presentation as well as the presentation of cash awards to the best performing students including Justice Benstone, the overall best student who came out tops in Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
