Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has ordered the immediate promotion of teachers in all senior secondary schools employed by the state government.
Governor Fubara issued this directive while inaugurating the Chairmen and four members each for the Senior Secondary Schools and Universal Basic Education Boards at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.
He explained that the promotion exercise for senior cadre teachers had been suspended because it was previously overseen by an Acting Director, whom he felt should not be entrusted with such a sensitive task. This responsibility will now be managed by the substantive board led by educationist Dr. Sam Umejuru.
The Governor expressed his commitment to improving the standard of education in the state, noting that education, healthcare, and agriculture will be top priorities in the 2025 budget.
In the Universal Basic Education sector, Governor Fubara urged Chairman David Briggs, a politician and administrator, to build upon the standards set by the previous board. He challenged Briggs, the former Chairman of the Senior Secondary Schools’ Board, to diligently execute his role to lay a strong educational foundation for children in the state.
The governor emphasized that a child’s academic excellence begins with their exposure at the UBE levels. He expressed confidence in the chairmen and members of both boards, citing their extensive experience in public and civil service.
Governor Fubara highlighted that many appointees, especially those on the Senior Secondary Schools’ Board, are seasoned educationists and administrators who had served as principals and vice principals when he started his career as a teacher in the Rivers State Civil Service.
Speaking on behalf of the board members, Dr. Sam Emejuru, Chairman of the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board, expressed gratitude to the governor for the opportunity to serve in such a capacity among the over seven million people in Rivers State.
He said: “What I want to assure you is that we are not going to disappoint you. We are going to carry out our duties efficiently, diligently and with fairness to everyone.
“We take cognizance of the fact that we know you are very passionate about education. So, we are not going to joke with this responsibility assigned to us.
“We are assuring you that we shall not be found wanting. We are going to deliver as you have trusted us to give us this assignment.”
In his speech, on behalf of his members, the Chairman of Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. David Briggs, expressed gratitude to God and the Governor for reposing a high level of confidence in them with such an assignment.
He said: “Our commitment will be unalloyed. We are assuring you that we will not disappoint you, knowing how meticulous, detailed, passionate, and of course, result-oriented you are.
“We will not disappoint you. We will not disappoint your government, and in totality, we will not disappoint the people of Rivers State. We will be at your side, as your foot soldiers to realise the educational heights you have as a vision for Rivers State.”
Those inaugurated for the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board included: Dr. Sam Emejuru as chairman, and Francis Jacob, Dr. Grace Jaja, Jemina Margaret Briggs, and Love Aguma as members.
For the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. David Theophilus Briggs is the chairman with Nwuke Anucha, Dr Alom Anyanya Austin-Mba, Dr. Walson Ominini as members, and Ibiere Pepple as Secretary.