The embattled Chibok community will have a reason to smile again at least for now, as President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the rebuilding of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.
The school was destroyed by terrorist group, Boko Haram, on the night of Monday, April 14, 2014 when the group launched the attack which saw them kidnap more than 200 schoolgirls, sparking outrage around the world.
According to The Trent, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made this known yesterday when she led a delegation on behalf of the federal government to visit refugees from Chibok who are camped in Buzunkure, Kuje area of the Federal Capital Territory.
Okonjo Iweala said: “The major focus of the federal government is to ensure that Boko Haram is removed so that people can move back to their communities. Displacement is not a permanent condition; the idea is for you people to be able to go back and not to build you camps in different places.
“The second thing is about the school, Government Secondary School, Chibok. About two days ago, we had a conversation for a long time; we have been waiting for the right circumstances.
“That school, the president is determined and he promised publicly that he will have the school rebuilt. The plans are ready; they are working with engineers. In no far distance, we will be able to start work in that school; he has already approved that.”
The minister further revealed that 44 students from the refugees would join 2,400 others that would be relocated from schools in the troubled region courtesy of support from British, American and Norwegians donors, the World Bank and the African Development Bank as part of the safe schools initiative.
She further promised:“If they want to be placed in schools close to this place, we will do it. If they want to be in secondary schools elsewhere, it will be done. It is a voluntary thing and we will try to meet up with their demands.”
Meanwhile, a Chevron engineer, Chinedu Onyeizu, who graduated from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and was posted to Bayelsa state for his one-year compulsory national youth service in 2002, has revealed the encounter he had with President Goodluck Jonathan while Jonathan was the deputy-governor of Bayelsa.
According to The Trent, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made this known yesterday when she led a delegation on behalf of the federal government to visit refugees from Chibok who are camped in Buzunkure, Kuje area of the Federal Capital Territory.
Okonjo Iweala said: “The major focus of the federal government is to ensure that Boko Haram is removed so that people can move back to their communities. Displacement is not a permanent condition; the idea is for you people to be able to go back and not to build you camps in different places.
“The second thing is about the school, Government Secondary School, Chibok. About two days ago, we had a conversation for a long time; we have been waiting for the right circumstances.
“That school, the president is determined and he promised publicly that he will have the school rebuilt. The plans are ready; they are working with engineers. In no far distance, we will be able to start work in that school; he has already approved that.”
The minister further revealed that 44 students from the refugees would join 2,400 others that would be relocated from schools in the troubled region courtesy of support from British, American and Norwegians donors, the World Bank and the African Development Bank as part of the safe schools initiative.
She further promised:“If they want to be placed in schools close to this place, we will do it. If they want to be in secondary schools elsewhere, it will be done. It is a voluntary thing and we will try to meet up with their demands.”
Meanwhile, a Chevron engineer, Chinedu Onyeizu, who graduated from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and was posted to Bayelsa state for his one-year compulsory national youth service in 2002, has revealed the encounter he had with President Goodluck Jonathan while Jonathan was the deputy-governor of Bayelsa.
