Enugu State is to build 260 smart schools across the state under an ambitious plan to raise a smart future workforce.
Dr. Peter Mbah, Enugu State Governor, is prioritising quality and timely completion of the 260 smart schools as part of other facilities being built across the state, the state government said in a statement.
The proposed smart schools is part of other projects including primary healthcare facilities to be built across all the 260 wards, in addition to the roads constructions, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the Enugu State Government hinted during an inspection tour of some projections underway in the state.
He further underscored Governor Mbah’s commitment to education by the allocation of 33% of the 2024 budget to this sector which was said to “guarantee the start, completions, and handover of the smart school projects on schedule.”
Enugu State: Inside the plans for 260 smart schools across 260 wards
“What His Excellency is setting out to achieve here,” Onyia said, “is to make sure that we did not run the three risks that we know that are eminent in every construction, considering that a time will come in Enugu State when we will have almost five hundred live projects – smart schools, primary healthcare facilities – in all the 260 wards, in addition to the roads constructions that are going on across the board. So, we are building a very strong monitoring team that will address the quality aspect of it.”
The Secretary of the Enugu State Government, who emphasised the use of high-quality materials and strict adherence to building plans, “enjoined them to deploy quality materials and build according to specifications, warning that any sharp practices would attract stiff sanctions and rejection by the government.”
He equally underscored the need for contractors to deliver their projects on schedule as stipulated in their terms of contract, the statement said.
According to him, “this is not the only project underway, the Enugu state government is also simultaneously constructing 260 Type-2 Primary Health facilities across all 260 wards in the state.”
He further underscored Governor Mbah’s commitment to education by the allocation of 33% of the 2024 budget to this sector which was said to “guarantee the start, completions, and handover of the smart school projects on schedule.”
According to him, “it is not just about monitoring, but also about building on all the key facets that will make sure that these projects achieve the objectives to have smart children and smart teachers coming out of our local governments and a smart workforce for the state.”
“We met with the contractors and their site engineers in all the sites we’ve visited,” Onyia added. “This is to ensure that there is no variation in the work specification, and that the quality of the materials they are using, starting from the foundation to completion, could guarantee the integrity and structural tests of these projects.”
The inspection team, which included Engr Gerald Otiji, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure; Prof Nwabueze Mbah, Commissioner for Education; Chris Robert Ozongwu, Commissioner for Budget and Planning; Dr. Gabriel Ajah, Chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB); Uche Nwatu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Projects Development and Implementation, among others, aims to ensure the integrity of the projects from start to finish.
“We are also taking into consideration the cost risk that comes when the time risk begins to happen because, once we miss the timeline, the next is that we begin to discuss variation,” Onyia added. “So, this team here is to ensure that all risks are evaluated and compliance is strictly adhered to.”
According to him, “it is not just about monitoring, but also about building on all the key facets that will make sure that these projects achieve the objectives to have smart children and smart teachers coming out of our local governments and a smart workforce for the state.”
To achieve this, a strong monitoring team has been established. They will not only address quality concerns but also manage project timelines and potential cost risks.
Security is another crucial aspect. The government is partnering with local communities to safeguard construction materials and completed facilities.
“Security is everybody’s business,” Ajah said. “The people are happy. The government has never come to the people at ward level like this before now. So, I am calling on our people to protect these projects from vandals by taking charge and ownership of them.”
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