MEMBERS OF EDTF BOARD ATTENDS A 5 DAYS RETREAT PROGRAMME
A five days retreat Programme has been organized for Members of Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund Board (EDTFB) aimed at providing Members the opportunity to share new ideas and implore best ways towards achieving the set goals and objective of the Trust Fund.
The Retreat held on the 23rd to 27th October, 2023, at LeadWort Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has as its Theme: Evaluating/Reviewing the Performance of EDTF in the Education Sector of Bayelsa State.
In her welcome remarks, the Executive Secretary, EDTF, Dr. (Mrs.) Alice Atuwo said the Retreat Programme was aimed at assessing the weaknesses and strength of the Board with the view of proffering solutions on identified challenges which would lead to achieving greater output for the betterment of Bayelsa State.
The Executive Secretary, therefore urged Board members to take the Presentation from Resource Persons seriously in order to boost their knowledge for improved performance.
In his opening speech, the Acting Chairman of the Board, Prof. Francis Sikoki on behalf of the Board Chairman, Professor Turner T. Isoun, expressed delight and welcomed all participants to the 9th retreat programme for members of EDTF Board.
According to him, the retreat was aimed at discussing the relevance and impact of EDTF interventions, Programmes and Project in the Educational Sector in the State.
He explained that, the major objective of the Trust Fund is the general upgrading of Education as well as the provision of functional and qualitative education for the indigenes of Bayelsa State.
The Acting Chairman, further enumerated some of the critical successes recorded through the EDTF Interventions to include; Feeding and caring for over 4000 students in the Model Boarding Secondary Schools as well as School for Children with Special Needs, Opolo, equipping of computer centers in the Model Secondary Schools, provision of laboratory equipment for (10) ten Rural Community Secondary Schools, provision of funds for training of 20 persons in Scaffolding, support for the completion of a Roof Top laboratory, Furnishing and equipping of Pathology Laboratory at BMU, Yenagoa, the establishment of State Owned 300 capacity Computer Based Testing (CBT) Centre at the UAT, and the Bayelsa Suya Domestication Project, UAT.
Others are; the provision of Internet Broadband facility at NDU, provision of funds for Scholarship Sourcing Software Portal at the State Scholarship Board, Coding and Robotic (Technovation) Programme for 100 Students and Teachers in the Model Schools, Borehole Water project at Community Secondary School, Okutukutu in partnership with Rotary International, Tertiary Institutions research grants Scheme for 9 persons/group for State Universities, the award of Scholarship to Special Education Students at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Award of Special Overseas Scholarship in hardship areas, Financial Contribution to support the bayelsa State Students Loan Scheme, support for the construction of a centre of Excellence at the Technical College, Okaka, that of Culinary (catering) center at the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Yenagoa and funding of the Training of Six batches of teachers through the TTRCB.
Prof. Sikoki commended the former Governor of the State, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson for the painstaking effort in establishing the Trust Fund as well as expressed appreciation to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, for sustaining the EDTF for the provision of qualitative education in the state.
The acting Chairman expressed optimism that, the EDTF has the potentials to positively impact on the Educational Sector stressing that, all hand must be on deck to support the EDTF to achieve a wider vision to become a World Class Intervention Agency.
Presenting the topic title; “Types/Methods of Programme Evaluation” Professor Perekeniba A. Bariweni said, Programme evaluation is a critical process to measure the effectiveness as well as the impact of a programme or project undertaken by the Trust Fund.
He explained that, the best ways of programme evaluation to achieve set goals is through feed backs, reviewing of strategies, work plans towards responding to the findings as well as policy areas and partnering with stakeholder groups.
The Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Barclays Ayakoroma in his presentation titled; Assessing the Relevance, Effectiveness, impact and Sustainability of EDTF in Bayelsa State, said, the best methods to achieve the set objectives of the Trust Fund is good leadership, team work and motivation as well as establishing critical Programme and projects to produce the desired results.
He applauded the EDTF for its outstanding performance and sustainable interventions in the Educational Sector which has earned the Trust Fund accolades.
Speaking on the topic; The Framework for an Effective Programme Evaluation”, Dr. Ibebietei Temple Offor, stated that, Programme evaluation is a systematic methods employed to assess an information concerning the characteristics and outcome of a programme in making judgments on the improvement and effectiveness of a programme.
Dr. Ibebietei further explained that, for the purpose of efficiency, a policy framework should be formulated to guide the programme and activities of the Fund to attain set goals as well as providing useful feedback aimed at improving its programmes and projects.
In his lecture, Titled; ‘The Components of Programme Evaluation process and other Associated Issues” Professor Nanighe Baldwin Major, said, as an interventionist agency, EDTF should regularly evaluate its activities to ensure relevance and to achieve improved outcome for greater impact in the education sector.
He explained that, programme evaluation will help in ensuring accountability as well as enhances data-driven decisions to achieve the goals and objectives while noting that, funds received should be judiciously used for the overall benefits of EDTF and in the State.
Peter Eyo Ayunku (PhD) presenting his lecture title; “Cyber Security Dynamics and Nigeria’s Cashless Policy Initiatives”, noted that, Cyber Security is a body of Technology, Processes and practice aimed at protecting an individual or organizations from cyber crime.
He explained that, cyber security is designed generally to protect critical assets and organizations information from unauthorized person to safeguard the Fund’s integrity.
In his topic; “Balancing Work Life; Keeping Fit and Staying Healthy”, Dr. Jones Stow said the benefits of balancing work life, keeping fit and healthy is geared toward increase productivity, improve physical and mental health as well as increase happiness and wellbeing.
According to him to attain job satisfaction, a person should prioritize his task to set realistic goals as well as creating daily schedules and time to avoid distraction in order to achieve positive result.