…assured job creation through education sector
….as C’River youth benefit from Odey’s 259 capacity JAMB Centre
By Ebriku John Friday
As education remains the bedrock of development, the Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Senator Stephen Odey, weekend, assured that the love and priority for education by the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, will transform lives of Cross Riverians in a short time.
Senator Odey stated this in an interview, while speaking on salient issues that would galvanize development of the State under the Otu-led administration.
On what to do differently in the educational sector of the State as newly sworn-in Commissioner for Education, the former Senator and Chairman of Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board, acknowledged that the education sector is one the measuring parameters of Governor Otu’s administration, and he as a Commissioner will ensure the best of service is delivered to the people without reservation.
He said: “Well, it is not the issue of where we are now, because I have this before I become SUBEB chairman, so even if I am the Commissioner for Education it doesn’t make any difference.
“What I am planning and praying for is that there should be adequate funding in my ministry so that we can continue the transformation we started in SUBEB on a larger scale.
“Government is a continuous thing. We started it as SUBEB, now in the Ministry, Governor Otu that I believe, his concern and priority is about education and agriculture and I am sure there will be lots of positive impact.”
Meanwhile, he assured the people that, “There will be plenty jobs because we would create employment because we need teachers and the right manpower to drive the education sector to a enviable height.
“A situation where you go to a school and you have one principal and two teachers and of course the two teachers are principal and vice principal, nobody to teach, we have to change such anomaly.”
Pointing out what was never in existence as one of the conditions to gain admission into tertiary institutions by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, which is a Centre for candidates to write their JAMB Computer Based Test, CBT, he (Odey) singlehandedly established a Centre for JAMB CBT in his school, Klinnicapps Academy in Okuku, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.
He explained that what inspired him was his concern about the rigourous and risky journey of young people in Yala Local Government Area embark on as they traveled far to Uyo, Enugu, Calabar, Obudu, Ikom, and other far cities to sit for JAMB CBT, hence he took the bull by the horns to establish the computer centre in his existing school, Klinnicapps Academy in Okuku, Yala Local Government Area in order to ease access to JAMB CBT centre, and it has really and drastically reduced the stress and safe time for candidates from Yala including Bekwarra LGAs.
He said: “The truth of the matter is that, if you are not educated you will be missing. So for me, I feel that everybody within my community, within my local government should be properly educated so that at the end of the day you should have something tangible doing. And if you have something doing you can also contribute to the development of your immediate community.
“And the best that you can offer to the society is providing education and encourage people in building their capacities.
“People travel far to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State, Obudu LGA, Ikom LGA, Enugu to access JAMB Computer Based Test centers, and I felt that I should also support and bring one to my Local Government Area, which is Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State so that the good people of Yala can also enjoy this facility. That is just the essence.
“Klinnicapps Academy, Okuku – Yala where I established the JAMB CBT centre has modern and brand new 259 laptops of JAMB standard for candidates to use for their CBT.
“This has drastically reduced the rigourous and risky journeys candidates embark on for JAMB CBT, and they are happy with that because of the proximity they enjoy and parents also have rest of mind now since their children and wards don’t go that far to sit for the exam anymore.
“Klinnicapps Academy is well fenced with Nursery, Primary and Secondary sessions running, and we still have plans to boost education in the area and the entire Cross River State.”
