Okorocha inaugurates Education Trust Fund Committee

Okorocha congratulating Engr. Emma Ezeonyeasi, Chairman Imo state Education Trust Fund Committee after his inauguration with other members of the committee on Monday, May 9, 2016.

To ensure that the free education programme of his administration stays even after he must have left office, Governor Rochas Okorocha has inaugurated 13-man State Education Trust Fund Committee to that effect with a renowned Engineer, Emma Ezeonyasi as chairman.

Inaugurating the committee today, Governor Okorocha said the essence of setting up the state Education Trust Fund committee was for the sustainability of the free education programme beyond 2019 when he will be leaving from office. He said there should be need to institutionalize the policy in the overall interest of the state.

His words, “as governor I am poised to see that the free education programme is sustained in the state beyond 2019.  There is no greater gift you can give to a child than education.  Education remains the pivot upon which the wheel of every success in life rotates. We must do everything as a people and government to keep the free education programme alive.”

He continued, “In 2011, the poverty rate in the state was 57% according to UNESCO.  Four years after it came to 14%.  This was made possible because most parents who were selling their valued possessions to pay the school fees of their children and wards do not sell them again since the introduction of free education.  This is why the poverty rate in the state has drastically reduced.  So, there is no going back on free education.”

According to Governor Okorocha, “the lives of our children born and yet unborn are very important.  So this is the time to secure the future of our children and children yet unborn by saving for their education.  Every child must go to school and education must be made free so that the children of the poorest of the poor can go to school as we don’t know where the person who may change the face of the state or the nation will come from.”

He charged the committee members to leave no stone unturned in realization of the goal for which they were chosen.

In his vote of thanks, the chairman of the committee, Engr. Emma Ezeonyeasi assured that they would live up to expectation since they were called to serve the state and her people.

Governor Okoroccha in a group photograph with members of Imo State Education Trust Fund Committee after their inauguration on Monday.