Enugu State governor Dr. Peter Mbah has celebrated the state’s children, describing the 260 Smart Green Schools being constructed by his administration as their ticket to a sure future.
Mbah also said that the 33 per cent budgetary allocation to the education sector demonstrated that they were at the heart of the administration’s agenda.
The governor spoke Tuesday during the 2025 Children’s Day celebration at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu. This year’s event was themed “Children: Our Future, Our Responsibility.”
Mbah, who the Secretary represented to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, stressed that the Smart Green Schools were not just school blocks but factories for the future workforce, innovators, and leaders.
“That is why, from the beginning of this administration, we put you at the heart of our agenda. We are building 260 Smart Green Schools, one in every political ward across our great state.
“These are not just schools; they are the schools of the future – powered by solar energy, equipped with digital smart boards, robotics labs, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, ICT centres, multimedia libraries, science labs, and smart farms.
“But even more important than the buildings is that we are moving beyond the old ways of learning. We allow you to learn by doing, experimenting, building, creating, and solving real problems. This is called Experiential Learning—and it is how the best schools now teach. That future is no longer far away. It is already here in Enugu State.
“We also provide free uniforms, books, nutritious meals, clean water, healthcare, and even tablets to help you learn better. Education must be inclusive, free, fun, fair, and full of opportunity. We are also transforming our Technical Colleges, Senior Secondary Schools, and Universities to match the world’s speed.
“To make all this possible, we allocated 33% of our annual budget to education in 2024 and 2025. This is the highest in Nigeria,” he said.
He urged the state’s children and youth to “be bold, curious, kind, and excellent,” reminding them that they had “the right to dream and to succeed.”
Meanwhile, in her goodwill message, the governor’s wife, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, described education as the greatest gift that could be given to children.
Therefore, she commended the Enugu State Ministry of Education and teachers for their “unwavering commitment to ensuring quality education,” saying the government would continue to provide a safe, inclusive, and conducive learning environment for the children. The event featured marches past and the presentation of prizes to various winners.
