Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund-sponsored Graduates Convocated On Friday 26th of April, 2024, At The Ignatius Ajuru University. River state Nigeria
Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund-sponsored Graduates Convocated on Friday, April 26th, 2024, at the Ignatius Ajuru University. River state Nigeria
Twelve Special Education teacher trainees from Bayelsa State have graduated from the Ignatius Ajuru University in Rivers State. The graduands, sponsored by the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) convocated on Friday at the University campus.
Leading a delegation of EDTF Board members to witness their graduation, the Acting Chairman of EDTF, Professor Francis Sikoki, and the Executive Secretary, Dr. (Mrs.) Alice Atuwo congratulated the beneficiaries for making the Board proud. In his remarks, Prof. Sikoki said the success shows that the huge investment in their academic was not in vein. He stated that the Board was pleased with their performances in a course that most people consider difficult and unattractive.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Dr. Atuwo poured encomium on the graduands noting that, their experience would enhance the teaching standards at the State School for Children with Special Needs, Opolo when they are engaged. She further stated that the decision to sponsor the students to Ajuru was borne out of the need to bridge the gap of indigenous teachers in the Special school. She said, should the current teachers decide to relocate to their states of origin, the Special Children School will be greatly affected, hence, the decision to sponsor the fifteen teachers drawn from the eight Local Government Areas in the State. The E.S was particularly happy that one of the beneficiaries graduated with first class while encouraging three others who had some academic deficits to re-double their efforts to graduate in the next academic session.
In her speech, the first class graduand, Agounowei Precious from Yenagoa Local Government Area on behalf of other scholars thanked the Bayelsa State government and the EDTF for the rare privilege. She acknowledged the challenges associated with studying Special Education but admitted that the full scholarship from the EDTF made learning a lot easier. The first class graduand promised to deploy her services to educating children with special needs and urged other Bayelsans to consider studying the course.
The EDTF intervention for the fifteen students covered tuition fees, books and monthly stipends for their upkeep while schooling as a way of encouraging them to study without much distractions.