Capacity building: Bayelsa seeks partnership with oil companies on education

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, has called on multinationals oil companies operating in the state, to partner more with the educational sectors of the state in order to build capacity of the younger generation and open them up for the opportunities in the oil sector.

The governor made the call yesterday, at the closing ceremony of the six weeks training programme for 250 mathematics, basic science and technology teachers organised by the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in partnership with the state ministry of education, at African University, Bolou Orua campus.

Governor Dickson, noted that the role of teachers in capacity building can’t be overemphasized, adding that if the teachers are not trained effective to teach the student whatever government is investing in the sector would be a waste.

Represented by the Chief of Staff, Hon. Talford Ongolo, he said the government under his leadership was committed and determined to motivate the teachers through training and re-training, noting that if more companies can partner with government on such programmes the sky will not be our limit.

He admonished them to continue on their own and upgrade themselves on whatever they’ve been thought, adding that the dream of the government is to see a society where teacher will be proud of the profession.

“my dream is to see a society where teachers can be proud of what they are doing, as we leave here your dreams is to attain excellence, knowledge is dynamic, you need to continue to upgrade yourselves, programmes like this are essential and as you go review the papers you were taught”

In his brief, the state commissioner for education, Hon. Jonathan Obuibite, commended the teachers for accepting and comporting themselves and also the show of enthusiasm through the duration of the training, adding that most of the time he spent with them during the training the teachers took it as their own project.

He admonished them to go out and influence and teach most of their colleagues who weren’t privileged to attend the workshop, noting that the performances of the students in the state will be the justification for the training.

According to the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote, who earlier stated that the future of the society depends on the teachers, said if the teachers are not equip with such trainings to teach the student the effort of the board will be futile.

He also noted that the local content has grown from 5 percent to 30 percent, and by the year 2027 it will be 70 percent, adding that the trained teachers are the ones to impact knowledge on the younger generation that will handle the oil industry.

Wabote, who was represented by the General Manager, Capacity building, Dr. Ama Ikuru, pledge 100 percent support from the board to building the capacity of the people of the country.

One of the beneficiary and the best English teacher, Mrs. Osaisai Uche Evans, from Southern-Ijaw secondary school Oporoma, commended the development partners and the state government for the opportunity to impact knowledge on them for the past weeks.