THE IJAW DIASPORAL COUNCIL (IDC) ASSURES EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT TRUST FUND OF IT'S PREPAREDNESS TO PARTNER WITH THE FUND IN EXECUTING SOME PROJECTS IN THE STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS
President of the Ijaw Diaspora Council (IDC) Professor Seledou Gold has assured the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) of the Council’s preparedness to partner with the Fund in executing some projects in the State’s Public Schools.
Professor Gold made this known when he led other principal officers of the Council to engage the EDTF via a zoom conference.
He noted that the Izon professionals cut across several countries of the world and are eager to contribute their quota to the development of Izon Land.
The IDC President said the Council was pleased to work with the EDTF to actualize its lofty goals as government bureaucracies often hinder the process of attracting diaspora projects back home.
He promised to use the Council’s wide network to attract more development partners to the State as well as members commitment.
Also speaking, Vice President of IDC, Dr. Antonia Garner said the body has the capacity of attracting more philanthropic organizations to Bayelsa State as it serves as the nexus of Ijaws living in the United States of America, Europe and other Continents of the world.
Dr. Garner lauded the EDTF for articulating projects that would impact the lives of young Bayelsans.
She particularly appreciated the fact that the EDTF was standing in the gap of the Bayelsa State Government to provide matching grants for projects that would be attracted to the State Educational Sector.
On her part, the Chairman of IDC, Gesiere Brisibe-Dorgu said with proper synergy the proposed projects were feasible.
According to Brisibe-Dorgu, the success of the proposed projects would bring fulfillment to the IDC, Bayelsa State and the Ijaw Nation at large.
Reacting to water and sanitation issues, she urged the Bayelsa State Government to formulate laws that would prohibits open defecation and waste disposal in the river which remains a major source of potable water.
Brisibe-Dorgu noted that Ijaws are lagging behind in the comity of tribes in the Nigerian nation noting that any effort geared towards it uplightment should be accorded the needed attention.
Earlier, Chairman of the Board, Professor Turner Isoun applauded the Ijaw Diaspora Council for embarking on numerous projects in several communities of the Ijaw Nation.
The Board Chairman who was represented by Professor Francis Sikoki said the quest for partnership with development partners, groups and philanthropic organizations was in line with the law establishing the EDTF.
Professor Isoun said the challenges confronting the state education sector are enormous for any government to shoulder alone and requires collaboration from well-meaning bodies and organizations.
The Board Chairman maintained that the vocational trainings being proposed were fashioned according to the required skill sets for companies, industries and the labour market place.
He said building, plumbing, carpentry, welding and fabrication for the oil and gas industry and tourism and hospitality are some identified skills needed to make youths to be meaningfully engaged to check social vices and unemployment.
In her presentation, Executive Secretary of the EDTF, Dr. Alice Atuwo had assured the IDC that the Fund was committed to providing counterpart funding for projects to be sited in the schools.
Dr. Atuwo said the proposed projects which are constructing of Science and Technology laboratories, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes, Sick Bays and capacity building for Technical, Vocational and Education Training (TVET) programmes are designed to complement existing structures in the education sector.
She lauded the IDC for demonstrating genuine commitment to support the programmes of the EDTF intended to improve the standard public schools in the State.
The Executive Secretary noted that the COVID-19 Pandemic has further exposed the need for e-learning and the establishment of e-libraries for schools in remote communities in the State.
Highpoint of the meeting was the 3-D presentation of projects proposal in the area of ICT, TVET, Water and Health facilities and laboratories in rural schools worth millions of dollars.