Jubilant principals and teachers of secondary schools in Enugu State, under the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB), yesterday, converged on the Government House, Enugu, in their numbers to celebrate and appreciate Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the exceptional attention his administration has paid to their wellbeing and the education sector.

They stressed that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration has been regular in the payment of their salaries unlike some states in the country, and has carried out various sterling reforms in the education sector that have repositioned the sector and earned Enugu State laurels in the country and beyond.

The teachers said that they are delighted at the governor’s remarkable achievements in the education sector and other sectors across the state notwithstanding the state’s lean resources and the challenges bedeviling the country since he assumed office.

They, therefore, passed a vote of confidence in Gov. Ugwuanyi and assured him of their unalloyed support and votes at the poll to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Led by the new Chairman of the PPSMB, Dr. Mrs. Favour Ugwuanyi, the principals and teachers told the governor that they are solidly behind the choice of Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general election.

They assured him that they will also vote for Barr. Mbah, his running mate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai and all other PDP candidates in the state.

Appreciating Gov. Ugwuanyi for reconstituting the PPSMB and bringing in intellectuals with proven track records, the principals and teachers disclosed that their positive impact is already being witnessed in the state’s education sector.

Speaking, the Chairman, Enugu State Association of Nigerian Conference of Principals of Schools (ANCOPS), Mr. Robert Okolie, maintained that the recent ranking of Enugu State as first among public secondary schools in Nigeria that presented candidates for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examination in 2021 was as a result of Gov. Ugwuanyi administration’s investment in the education sector.

The ANCOPS chairman thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for his commitment to quality education and the teachers’ wellbeing, saying: “We wish you good luck. We are assuring you that all the candidates of the PDP are winners already. They should go and prepare for their electoral victory celebrations”.

Describing Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration as an “education-friendly administration,” the PPSMB Head of Department (HOD), Central Registry, Mrs. Joy Agbara, stated that the governor’s good works in the education sector are enormous, pointing out that they include conversion of teachers, payment of inherited promotion arrears, recruitment of 1,000 teachers, renovation and construction of classroom blocks, provision of modern learning tools, such as computers, laboratory equipment as well as instructional materials, among others.

Speaking further, she said: “Your Excellency, we have never had it this good. That is part of the secret of what you are seeing today. If you look at our schools, there was a time that if you entered our schools, the environment was nothing to write home about but now the environment is friendly for teaching and learning. You have given it to Enugu State.

“Our students came out with good grades in JAMB and WAEC. Our students are ICT-compliant, among other achievements.

“We said we must come because there is nothing as urgent as showing gratitude. An act of ingratitude is worse than a traitor’s sword. His Excellency, we say thank you.”

Speaking in the same vein, the Coordinator, Teachers for Good Governance (TGG), Mrs. Ify Dunu, the Chief Supervising Principal (CSP), Mr. Christopher Ekwunife and Mrs. Chinedu Eze from PPSMB Headquarters, all applauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for his administration’s transformational policies in the education sector and commitment to the wellbeing of the principals and teachers, reassuring the governor of their support for his senatorial bid and that of Barr. Mbah, and other PDP candidates.

Endorsing their stance, the Chairman of the PPSMB, Dr. Mrs. Ugwuanyi, informed Gov. Ugwuanyi that the joy on the faces of the principals and teachers was borne out of their conviction that the governor has done so well for them.

She used the opportunity to express gratitude to the governor for sending her to National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Jos, for training and appointing her the Chairman of the PPSMB as well as giving her people of integrity and intellectual prowess to work with as members of the Board.

The Board Chairman equally commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for setting an unprecedented national record in training 55 Directors and Permanent Secretaries at NIPPS, stressing that no state in Nigeria has done so.

She pointed out that the landmark achievements the Board has recorded was because of the governor’s support and the opportunity he gave them to excel.

Reaffirming the teachers’ support for the governor’s senatorial bid and that of other PDP candidates, Mrs. Ugwuanyi stressed: “We will do it just as we have always done before. We want to start by going for a thanksgiving on your behalf in the six educational zones. It will be called ‘Teachers Thanksgiving’ on your behalf. After this thanksgiving, we will go back to our various schools and kick-off what we call School-to-School Voters Education.”

The State Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Augustine Nnamani, the PDP candidate for Nsukka West Constituency, Hon. Amos Amadi Agbo, former Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Hon. Ogbo Asogwa, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Religious Matters, Bishop Chinedu Nwoye, Permanent Secretary/Secretary of the PPSMB, Remigius Chibuzo Eze, and a Board Member, Ugochukwu John Eneze, were among the dignitaries that witnessed the event.

In a related development, women from the Orba, Gov. Ugwuanyi’s community in Udenu LGA, under the auspices of ‘Orba Women Circle of Friends’ also visited the governor to express their solidarity and support for his senatorial bid in 2023.

Led by their President, Mrs. Ngozi Eze, the Orba women, who appeared in their colourful attires, conveyed their deepest and heartfelt gratitude to God for deeming it worthy for their illustrious son to occupy the exalted office as the Governor of Enugu State.

The delighted women lauded Gov. Ugwuanyi for the numerous giant development projects his administration has executed in their community, Udenu LGA, Enugu North Senatorial District and the state in general that “will outlive generations unborn.”

They stated that they are proud of the governor for the establishment of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State, construction of roads, educational, sports and health facilities in the rural areas, and other landmark programmes including human capital empowerment.

The women pledged their unflinching loyalty and support for the governor’s senatorial ambition, stressing: “We hereby volunteer to be your foot-soldiers in campaigning vigorously for your success at the poll and be rest assured that we, your sisters have you in prayers and are ever ready to assist in whatever capacity in ensuring that you emerge our Senator come 2023.”

Also leading a group of canvassers from Nsukka LGA on a solidarity visit to Gov. Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu, the former Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Hon. Ogbo Asogwa, declared that they are determined to work for the victory of the governor and the PDP at the polls.

Hon. Asogwa briefed Gov. Ugwuanyi that membership of the group was drawn from the 20 electoral wards in Nsukka LGA with one coordinator and five members from each ward, who voluntarily opted to work for the victory of the governor and the PDP at the polls.

“Your Excellency, the calibre of people we selected are not only the people that love you but also people that are determined to work for the PDP at the grassroots”, he added.

Hon. Asogwa emphasized that Gov. Ugwuanyi has the needed legislative experience and exposure to represent Enugu North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, disclosing that the group will expand its membership base and engage more canvassers at each polling unit to mobilise the electorate to vote for the governor and the PDP in the forthcoming elections.