By Seatrules Eziokwu
The Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah, has received the prestigious CEDESA Initiative ‘Youths’ Influencer Award’ in recognition of his multifaceted strides in the education sector especially the Back-to-School programme, resumption tests and strengthening education in the state.
The Commissioner while receiving the award expressed his gratitude for the assessment of the ministry and the unquantifiable encouragement that comes with the CEDESA Initiative Youths’ Influencer Award. Chief Patrick commended CEDESA Initiative for the good jobs they have done so far towards the development of education in the state and encouraged the organization to continue with what he described as “outstanding Job” they are doing.
The commissioner who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mr Felix Ideh also noted that, CEDESA Initiative is a household name in the ministry even as he assured the organization that the ministry will gladly partner with them in order to continue to raise the standard of education in the state.
Chief Patrick also stated that, in 2021 when the ministry of Basic and Secondary Education will organize its mentoring programme that CEDESA Initiative will be invited to join hands with them. “Currently our Post COVID-19 strategies as it concern teaching and learning is second to none in the country; Delta State took a step forward – we have Teleclasses running, e-learning platforms and we have plans to upgrade these learning platforms to be offline, that is, without data”, he added.
While also receiving CEDESA Initiative Proposal to hold a training programme for teachers across the state, the commissioner noted that the ministry will study the proposal even as he noted that the government need partners to move the state forward.
Earlier in her address, the Center for Education Development and Skill Acquisition Initiative (CEDESA) CEO, Mrs Ugbe Oluronke Iyabo commended Chief Patrick Ukah and the board of Directors in the various departments in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for being proactive and pragmatic in running the programs of the ministry.
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The CEDESA Initiative boss stated that the development of education and building a generation of leaders with global impact in the state is the core motivating factor for the organization and that CEDESA Initiative needs genuine partnership to deliver maximally.
While presenting the ‘Youths’ Influener’ Award to the commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education in his office, Mrs Ugbe stressed that the award was CEDESA Initiative way of saying ‘thank you’ to Chief Patrick Ukah for initiating and promoting the “Back-to-school mentoring programme and resumption tests to enhance academic excellence among students in the Delta state” she noted.
She also acknowledged the fact that learning the Post COVID-19 era will never be the same again and so, she advocated that teachers need to be retrained and equipped with the relevant skills to be able to inculcate on the students adequately.
Meanwhile, CEDESA Initiative also presented a proposal to partner with the ministry to organize a training programme for teachers in the three (3) Senatorial Districts in the state.
