In a bid to foster civil-military relationship, the Nigerian Navy has commissioned the renovated Major IE Muazu Memorial Primary School in Adunu community in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, commissioned the primary school project in Adunu community in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Ogalla who was represented by Acting Chief of Naval Tranformation, Rear Admiral Julius Nwagu, the school project is a civil-military engagement aims to foster harmonious relations between the Navy and local communities.
He said the project is executed under the Chief of Naval Staff Special Intervention Quick Impact Project Scheme in honour of Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Istitanus Istitanus Mua’zu Albara
“We decided to encourage every Rear Admiral in Nigeria to initiate projects benefiting their communities, we have over 15 CNS-sponsored projects nationwide.
“The Rear Admirals are to identify critical quick impact projects that will have maximum impact on the socio-economic wellbeing of grassroots communities,” he said.
He said provision of infrastructure for early educational training was key to emancipating illiteracy and poverty, adding that through the project children would have access to quality education.
Ogalla added that the renovated school, which will be benefiting over 118 children, symbolises hope and opportunity for youths in Paikoro local government area.
In his welcome address, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, NAVTRAC,Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Istifanus Mua’zu Albara, revealed that Major IE Muazu Memorial Primary School started as a missionary school in the early 1950.
He disclosed that the renovated school project is a two new classroom blocks consisting of five classrooms, two offices as well as 3 renovated blocks of classrooms.
He said additionally, the project includes construction of a perimeter fence for the school, construction of a security post in line with the safe school initiative.
Others are modern toilets facilities, furniture for the classrooms/offices along with provision of solar powered lightning units within the school premises.
Mua’zu-Albara said the project will address infrastructure deficit in Adunu community and elevate its educational standard, foster a deeper connection between the community and armed forces of Nigeria.
In his remarks, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, emphasized the need for collective support to revamp the educational sector in the state.
Bago who was represented by the Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, called on local government chairmen to take ownership of school properties due to their deteriorated condition across the state.
He said as products of public schools, it’s concerning that public schools have fallen short of expectation and urged well tondo individuals as well as all stakeholders to collaborate and take charge of the schools.
The District Head of Adunu, Alhaji Kabiru Bawa, thanked the governor for addressing security challenges in the area, saying that due to relative peace in the area residents now go to sleep with their eyes closed.
He commended the Chief of Naval Staff for the newly renovated school and called on the state government to intervene on the deplorable Kafin-Koro-Adunu Road and restoration of electricity in Adunu community.
Similarly, the Head Master, Major IE Muazu Memorial Primary School in Adunu, Mainasara Maichibi, said the school was established in 1962, after which it has been in a collapsing state with dilapidated structures with no chairs for students and teachers before it was constructed by Rear Admiral Istifanus Mua’zu Albara.
“We have conducive environment for learning now, we thanked the Nigerian Navy for this gesture, we promised to maintain the facilities in the school,” he said.
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