Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu says his administration has increased the public primary school enrollment figure in the state using the free school feeding programme which he said has worked like a magic.
Governor Ikpeazu who stated this while addressing Members of the Free Meal Programme from Abia South during their solidarity visit at the Governor’s Lodge Aba on Monday said that the leadership of the Programme has exceeded the aims of embarking on the free meal Programme which were to reverse the poor enrollment of pupils in public Schools as well as reduce school drop outs, the Governor’s chief press secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka said in a statement.
According to Governor Ikpeazu the successes achieved by the state feeding programme has continued to dominate conversations at the federal level and called on the Federal Government to emulate Abia by applying same strategies used by Elder Emeka Ahuruonye leadership of the Free School Feeding Programme.
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The Governor noted that apart from the great support it has given to our school programme the scheme has provided jobs to over 6,000 Abians, especially women.
The Governor who specifically appreciated his wife – Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu for her relentless efforts with the focal persons to actualize this objective, assured that he will devote more energy as a Senator to give greater impetus to such programmes to avoid incessant school drop outs that have contributed to the country’ s problem.
The statement continued, “He maintained that PDP parades the most competent candidates for the upcoming general elections and advised the people to vote for their victories while thanking them for the overwhelming support from their political Ward levels since 2019.
“Governor Ikpeazu added that he will go to the Senate with his gifts of advocacy and matured engagements with the relevant authorities at the federal government to bring solid dividends for the people of Abia South and Abia State.
“Speaking earlier, the Focal Person, Abia State Social Investment Programme – Mr Chinenye Nwaogu disclosed that Abia remains the only state with the highest record of success in Free Feeding Programme which started 15months for Basic one to six pupils before the Federal Government kicked off the exercise.
“Contributing, the State Feeding Programme Manager – Elder Emeka Ahuruonye thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for initiating the idea through the office of wife of the Governor
“He noted their achievements to include increased enrollment from 141,000 pupils to the current 718,222 pupils.
“He added that the number of public primary schools in the State has increased to 1020 from the 869 they inherited in 2015 while the National Bureau of Statistics confirms that the rate of public schools drop out has reduced from 13.7% to the current 7.8%.
“Elder Ahuruonye thanked wife of the Governor for personally visiting some schools for the free meal exercise and given out one hundred and sixty-seven school uniforms, three hundred and seventy one sandals, six hundred and fifty five food flasks and water bottle as well as periodic deworming of the pupils.
“Highlights were the endorsement of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as their candidate for next month’s senatorial election and the hand over to the Governor of the documented brochure of the Programme from 2016 to December 2022 while the Deputy Speaker – Rt Hon Ifeanyi Uchendu , the OVI for Senate Campaign Director General, Hon Barrister Thomas Nkoro ,Barrister Emeka Enwereji and Chief Raymond Aliga were all present during the solidarity visit.”
