Enugu Govt Will Support Technical, Creative Education, Says Deputy Governor Ossai
…As St. Joseph’s School Of Technology and Creative Arts (JOSTAC), Obollo-Afor, Officially Opens
The Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, has pledged the state government’s commitment to supporting, nurturing and protecting technical and creative education as critical pathways to economic empowerment and sustainable development.
Ossai made the commitment, while speaking at the opening and commissioning ceremony of the St. Joseph’s School of Technology and Creative Arts (JOSTAC), Iheakpu, Obollo-Afor, in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The Deputy Governor said the establishment of the institution represented an important intervention in addressing the skills gap in the state and creating opportunities for young people to build sustainable livelihoods outside the conventional university education pathway.
According to him, meaningful development can only be achieved when societies create opportunities for people to acquire practical skills and transform them into productive enterprises.
Ossai noted that many inventions and innovations that have transformed the modern world were developed by people whose educational paths did not necessarily follow the conventional university route.
“All the great inventions that we enjoy today were conceived and nurtured through a pipeline in institutions such as this,” he said, citing renowned inventor Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers, pioneers of powered flight, as examples.
The Deputy Governor commended the benefactors whose support made the establishment and development of JOSTAC possible, describing their intervention as significant at a time when substantial gaps remain in education and skills development.
He also expressed particular appreciation to the Catholic Church for its longstanding contributions to education, healthcare and social development in Nigeria.
“I thank the Catholic Church in a special way because we know their role. The Church brought us education, gave us clinics and saved us from many diseases that would have probably killed us off a long time ago. We might not have been able to go this far without the Church,” he said.
Ossai assured the management of JOSTAC that the Enugu State Government would take seriously the challenges confronting the institution and explore areas where government intervention could make a meaningful difference.
He observed that government alone could not address all the developmental challenges facing society, stressing the importance of partnerships with religious organisations, private individuals and other stakeholders who invest in creating opportunities for citizens.
Describing JOSTAC as an intervention that government must protect, the Deputy Governor pledged that the state administration would do everything within its capacity to support and nurture the institution and help translate its vision into tangible outcomes.
“The intervention of the Church by way of this institution is something that government should protect, and I am committing that the Government of Enugu State will do all it takes to support, nurture, protect and ensure that the dreams we institute today will come to fruition,” he said.
He added that he would take up the challenges identified by the Rector with the relevant authorities, noting that the skills gap in society makes it imperative for more individuals and organisations to invest in institutions dedicated to technical and creative education.
Ossai also called for greater support for initiatives that create opportunities for young people, assuring prospective investors and benefactors of the state government’s readiness to support interventions that improve the welfare and prospects of citizens.
The Deputy Governor further conveyed the government’s appreciation to the benefactors of JOSTAC, expressing his intention to personally meet them during a future visit to Europe to formally convey the state’s gratitude for their contribution to the development of the institution.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
