FREE TERTIARY EDUCATION: ROCHAS PRESENTS CHEQUES TO BENEFICIARIES FROM IMO 2012-11-13 17:17:37



HIS EXCELLENCY OWELLE ROCHAS OKOROCHA The Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has fulfilled his major campaign promise to the people of Imo State by issuing cheques of 100,000 naira each to undergraduates of Imo State University who are indigenes of the State.
Also in the list of those who were paid includes students of Imo State polytechnic Umuagwo who received the sum of 80,000 naira each and the students of College of Health Science and Technology Amaigbo, who received the sum of 60,000 naira each.

In a speech at the ceremony tagged ‘Investment for the Future’, held at the Heros square, Owerri today the 13th of November 2012, Governor Okorocha said that the day’s event should go down in history as “the greatest moments of his life”.
He said that there is no legacy that is greater than the provision of free education to the people, adding that by such legacy, the children of the poor can acquire formal education to the benefit of themselves and the society.

Speaking further at the occasion, Governor Okorocha said that of all the numerous projects embarked upon by his administration, non to him is as good as the free education given to over 19,000 students of Imo State origin.
He said his administration has been able to achieve the feat through sacrifice and commitment to service, adding that he forfeited 4 billion naira security vote just to ensure that the free education programme succeeded.
He therefore charged the students to not only be of good behaviour, but also to ensure that the ‘candle’ of free education for Imo indigenes which has been kindled at the day’s event is kept burning beyond this generation.

Earlier in a speech, the Imo State Commissioner for Education, Prof (Mrs) Adaobi Obasi said that the revolution going on in the education sector in Imo State include the building of 12 classroom blocks in each of the 305 wards in the State, building of the Young Scientist’s college, the Owerri City school, College of Advanced professional studies (ICAPS), increasing the subvention given to Imo State University from 57 million naira to 152 million naira, release of 450 million naira grant to the Missionary schools to mention just a few.

Also speaking, the Rector of Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Reverend Fr. Dr. Wence Madu said that access to qualitative education will guarantee safety and security in all aspects of life in the State, adding that Governor Okorocha’s comment about Imo being the richest State in Nigeria can be proved from the perspective that God has endowed the indigenes with an immeasurable wealth of knowledge and talents.

Adding his voice, the Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Professor B.E.B Nwoke said that the event of the day represents a golden moment in the history of education in Imo State, Nigeria and Africa. He expressed optimism that the students will work harder bearing in mind that the money used in sponsoring their education came from the tax payers.

The high points of the occasion were the presentation of cheques in payment of gratuities to hundreds of retirees from the State civil service who were being owed by the past administrations in the State and the presentation of 4 buses and a hilux van to the State government by the representative of Diamond Bank P.LC, Mrs Chiaka Ejiogu to support the day’s event.

Also present at the occasion were the Provost of Imo State College of Health Science and Technology, Amaigbo, Elder A.O Chiaka, the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Mr Chinedu Offor and a host of others

http://www.imostate.gov.ng/imo-state-news/news_details.php?idx=hellorochas-launches-free-tertiary-education-in-imo-presents-cheques-to-students-retirees-1193545674906

The Action governor is really doing wonders. I say welldone and a big congrats to Ndi Imo State.

I like how he's taken at least one aspect (education) and is investing in it very well; he should construct more of those model schools all over Imo state, and equip them well.

I hope he sends his own children to such schools.

[size=20pt]ROCHAS FOR ROACHES![/size]

I like Rochas but I think he plays too much to the gallery. The consequence of playing to the gallery will be seen in white elephant projects and unsustainable policies. This policy of free tertiary education is UNDENIABLY unsustainable. I believe in FREE and QUALITATIVE basic education because it is NEEDFUL and sustainable. Free tertiary education is neither necessary nor sustainable. Two things will happen to the policy in a few yrs time: either the policy collapses on its own due to cash flow issues or the quality of tertiary education will deteriorate. Perhaps a tertiary education revolving loan scheme, where interested Ndi Imo can apply and pay back after graduation when they get employment, may have made more sense. First it will limit the number of those who will get the loan to only those who require it- students whose parents are not as rich. Students whose parents are well-to-do will not even bother to apply as the rigours of the paper work will even scare them away. By being revolving, it means that beneficiaries who graduate and get good work will pay back. Even if 100% of students does not pay back, those who manage to pay back will reduce the burden of the policy on govt. Also a revolving loan scheme will not affect the quality of education.
But a free tertiary education for ALL Ndi Imo like the governor just did is SENSELESS, unnecessary, ILL-ADVISED, UNSUSTAINABLE and will definitely reduce the QUALITY of tertiary education in Imo. The irony and the most unfortunate part is that people(and even the elites) hail and praise the governor for the WHITE ELEPHANT policy.