Rt. Hon. Eric Akpan, the Executive Chairman of Nsit Ibom Local Government Council has charged Village Youth Presidents in the area to be ambassadors of good governance in the various communities they preside.
The Council Chairman gave the charge during the official inauguration of Ikot Ntuen Nsit Village Youth President at the Village Council hall, last weekend.
Rt. Hon. Eric Akpan advised the newly sworn-in president to render a servant leader stewardship to his people throughout his tenure and avoid being a tyrant to his people.
He hinted that the success of his adminstration as the village President is embedded in working in partnership with the village council and the youths in the community.
The Chairman assured the President that the precedence his leadership shall set in the community will be the driving force to his growth in the socio-political phase.
Rt. Hon. Eric Akpan said the community is a unifying group of persons who share similar ideologies, norms, cultures and beliefs. He called on the new President to marry all sectors together in order to have a chaos free administration.
On his part, the Councillor representing Asang Ward 1 in Nsit Ibom Legislative Council, Hon. Mbetnse Akpan urged him be brave and courageous as a leader even in the phase of challenges in course of his leadership.
The Councillor pledged his support to the President to ensure he has a smooth, impactful and successful tenure in office.
Speaking also, Akparawa Prince Akpan, Chairman, Village Youth Council, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area congratulated the new Village President for his emergence and called on him to be fair to all parties in the course of his service to the community.
Prince Akpan encouraged him to create and maintain a cordial working relationship with other village youth President especially those within his territorial boundaries for a successful tenure.
Similarly, Akparawa Iya Iya, Nsit Ibom Youth Caucus Leader intimated the new President that his office isn’t a tool of war against constituted authorities in the community but an avenue for unifying the youths to speak in a formidable voice for the growth and development of the village.
Akparawa Iya admonished him to run an all exclusive leadership not leaving behind non indigenes dwelling in the community as they equally have their quota to contribute to the advancement of the village.
In his inaugural speech Mr. Uwem Usen, promised to serve the youths of Ikot Ntuen Nsit diligently, adding that he shall not be found wanting in delivering his services to the community.
Mr. Usen said his administration shall be transparent, all inclusive, purposeful and people oriented for the general good of the people.
He assured that during his tenure in office, the community shall witness tremendous development and a paradigm shift in its growth and developmental strides.
The president further said his administration shall not conflict with any interest but harness every sector together for the general good of the indigenes and other sojourners in the community.
Present during the inauguration ceremony were: Rt. Hon Eric Akpan, the Executive chairman of Nsit Ibom, Mr. Eno Udonsek, the secretary to Nsit Ibom local government council, Councilor Representing Asang ward 1, Hon. Mbetnse Akpan, Hon. Aniefiok Akpan- Dakkada Ambassadors coordinator, Nsit Ibom LGA.
Others were: Akparawa Iya Iya, Youth caucus leader, Nsit Ibom LGA, Akparawa Imeobong Effiong John, NYCN Nsit Ibom LGA, Akparawa Prince Akpan, chairman forum of village youth president, Nsit Ibom, Mr. Innocent Akpan, renowned business mogul and politician and Mr. Godwin Effiong Akpan, former youth president, Ikot Ntuen Nsit.
Also, across section of village council/executives, women, youths and children witnessed the inaugural ceremony at the village council hall.
Akwa Ibom State Government has reeled out 16 points guidelines for schools re-opening in the State.
This is contained in a press release signed by the Honour Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Enobong Mbobo.
Guidelines For Schools Re-opening In Akwa Ibom State
The release stated that: to be able to return our students back to school, these are the minimum standard that has to be allowed:
(1) Provision of adequate number of classrooms for physical distancing. We prescribe that no class’s hold have more than 20 students.This gives room for effective management, monitoring,contact tracing incase of any infection.
(2) All Candidates Must Wear a Face Mask: Parents are mandated to provide face masks for their children.
(3) All Schools Must Have Running Water: We have to provide borehole in all our schools with a good number of washing points or alternatively provide plastic water reservoirs that will provide running water for washing of hands.
(4) We must provide washing liquid soaps and handsanitizers for disinfection of our hands.
(5) We must provide disposable tissue papers for cleaning of hands after washing.
(6) We must maintain clean sanitary condition in our lavatories, toilets and urinary.
(7) Provision of infrared thermometers in all schools.
(8) We must give special training to our teachers on how to teach in the Covid-19 Pandemic era.
(9) We must also sensitize students and parents on the danger and prevention of Corona Virus infection.
(10) We must carry out fumigation, general cleaning and grass cutting in all our schools.
(11) We must have at least one make-shift school clinic in case a student falls sick.
(12) A special toll-free number will be provided to enable easy communication with the Medical Team of the “Covid-19 Committee”in the State in case of emergency.
(13) On resumption of schools, there will be no Assembly of any nature.
(14) There will also be no break; the students will only be given 5 to 10minutes break to enable them stretch their legs.
(15) Learners may arrive and depart at different times to avoid overcrowding.
(16) When weather permits, the use of outdoors shelter for learning should be encouraged as its limits the rate of transmission.
Federal Government Issues Press Release on School Reopening For Exiting Students
It could be recalled that Federal Government of Nigeria in July, had earmarked August 4 for schools reopening for exiting students nationwide allowing them the maximum of two weeks preparatory period before the commencement of WAEC on August 17, 2020.
While date for commencement of NECO NABTEB and NBAIS examinations shall be made public upon conclusion by major stakeholders in the education sector.
Schools managements are required to adhere strictly with guidelines for schools re-opening nationwide while State Governments may decide to inject some precautionary measures peculiar for their terrain.
Federal Government Reopens Schools for Existing Students, August 4, 2020
Federal Government has concluded plans to reopen school for students in exit classes only, come August 4, 2020.
As contained in a press release signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Ben Ben Goong, students will have two weeks to prepare for the West African Examination (WAEC) that is slated to commence on 17th, August, 2020.
The new decision of Federal Government on school resumption for final year students steams from the unanimous resolution reached today during a virtual consultative meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, Commissioners of Education of the 36 States.
This includes; Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), the Proprietors of private schools and Chief Executives of Examination bodies.
At the meeting, it was agreed that the “exit classes should resume immediately after the Sallah break, from 4th of August, 2020 to enable them prepare for the WAEC examinations scheduled to commence from 17th August, 2020”.
Also, the meeting resolved that a passionate appeal be “made to the Federal Government through the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and public spirited Nigerians for assistance to schools across the country to enable them fast track the preparations for reopening as agreed.
In addition, “another meeting is to be convened tomorrow between the Federal Ministry of Education and Chief Executives of Examination bodies.
They are: “NECO NABTEB and NBAIS to harmonise their Examination dates, which will be conveyed to stakeholders expeditiously by the Federal Ministry of Education“.
It is commendable that Federal and State Governments are collectively partnering to ensure students/pupils are back to school even as the world is undergoing her healing process of COVID-19 pandemic, guidelines for schools re-opening shall serve as a preventive measure against the virus spread.