EXECUTIVE SECRETARY (EDTF) RECEIVES A PRESTIGIOUS
PAN-AFRICAN LEADERSHIP AWARD.
The Executive Secretary, Dr. (Mrs) Alice Atuwo of the Bayelsa State Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) has received a prestigious Pan-African Prize for Excellence Leadership Award; “The Beacon of Hope for African Development (BHAD).
The Leader, Initiative for Positive Influence on African Youths, South Legon, Accra, Ghana, Hon. Matthew Wajala, who presented the award to Dr. (Mrs.) Alice A. Atuwo, at the Fund Secretariat, Education House, Ovom, Yenagoa, described her as an administrative icon with impeccable credentials as well as the passionate contribution towards the development of education in the State, Nation and Africa. According to him, Dr. Atuwo as an educationist, who saw the genuine need for the transformation of the educational sector in providing affordable and quality education for the citizenry. Hon. Wajala further stated that, the core objective of the African Youths Initiative was aimed at the re-introduction of the concept of Pan-Africanism to enable the youths contribute their quota towards ensuring the development of Africa for Africans.
He explained that the organization was also committed to the campaign against social vices, such as, massive Brain Drain, Drug Abuse, Kidnapping as well as the campaign for the development of Africa for African and good leadership, among others. The Leader of Africa Youths Initiative also used the opportunity to invite Dr. (Mrs.) Alice Atuwo to participate in their forthcoming campaign against drug abuse on the 25th of September 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria, with the view of reawakening the African consciousness against drug abuse.
In her acceptance remarks, the Executive Secretary EDTF, Dr. (Mrs) Alice Atuwo, expressed appreciation and dedicated the Award to the Almighty God for identifying her, the EDTF, and the management of the Board worthy out of the several prominent individuals and agencies in the State. According to her, the EDTF was made up of eminent personalities, Professors, former Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries, who have joined forces with the corporate staff of the Trust Fund with the view towards actualizing the goals and objectives to ensure the provision of good and quality education in Bayelsa State. The Executive Secretary (EDTF) decried the increasing rate of brain drain in Nigeria as well as drug abuse among youths in the society and called on the leaders of African Unity, Community leaders, youth groups to tackle the issue of brain drain as well as advise the youths to shun drug abuse and embrace education to be impactful in the society. Dr. Atuwo also used the opportunity to highlight some of the achievements of the Trust Fund which include, the feeding of over 6,000 students in the Boarding Schools programme, the Tertiary Institution Research Grants Scheme (TIRGS), the 300-capacity Computer Based Testing (CBT) Centre, UAT, the equipping and furnishing of five (5) Basic Clinical Laboratory (BMU), among others. She called on all well-meaning Bayelsans and other prospective Nigerians to partner with the Trust Fund towards contributing to the development of quality and sustainable education in Bayelsa State.