Alphonsus Agborh – Asaba
Delta State Government has made financial grant of N400m to 40 mission schools returned by the state government in 2011.
The gesture is to enable the owners of the schools upgrade their facilities towards effective learning and teaching in the schools.
Presenting cheques for the amount to the beneficiaries in his office in Asaba, Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah explained that after the official handover of the schools to the owners in 2011, the missions appealed to the state government for the grant to enable them run the schools effectively.
According to him, governor of the state, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, approved the grant in 2022 at the 6th Synod of the Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.
The Secretary said the approval was subsequently ratified by the State Executive Council for implementation, adding that the gesture was in appreciation of the important role played by the missions in building moral rectitude and peaceful coexistence in the society.
Chief Ukah expressed the hope that the grant would help the missions towards upgrading and running of the schools effectively.
The SSG listed the beneficiaries to include African Church, Warri Diocese with one school, Anglican Church, Asaba Diocese, with 3 schools; Anglican Church, Oleh Diocese, two schools and Anglican Church, Ughelli Diocese with one school.
Others are Anglican Church, Warri Diocese, one school, Baptist Church Convention, 4 schools, Catholic Church, Issele-uku Diocese, 11 schools, Catholic Church Warri Diocese, 15 schools and Catholic Church, Bomadi Vicariate with one school.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Bishop of Warri Catholic Diocese, Bishop Anthony Ewherido, represented by Rev. Fr. Christopher Ekabo thanked the state government for the financial assistance to the missions’ schools and prayed God to grant the governor and his team their ambitions and wisdom to enable them finish strong.
He appealed to the state government to further release mission primary schools to them.
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