The governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, says his special interest in education is driven by purpose, not politics. He notes that Enugu is on the cusp of a renaissance, given the transformational promises of the Smart Green Schools initiated by his administration.
Mbah also maintained that his administration’s consistent allocation of about one-third of the state’s annual budget to education underscored his belief that education is a game-changer for any society.
This was even as the University of East London (UEL) Alumni Network lauded him for his outstanding performance as governor and pledged to collaborate on realising his ambitious visions for the state.
The governor spoke in Enugu on Monday during the inauguration of the UEL Alumni Network Nigeria, of which he is a member, and when he received the alumni’s leadership in his office earlier in the day.
Delivering the keynote address at the event, which was themed “Reshaping Nigeria’s Future: The Role of Alumni in Education, Governance, and Security,” Mbah said, “My special interest in education is not happenstance. It is driven by a deep purpose, not politics—or any quest for acclaim.
“The interest is fuelled in part by the story of a young boy from a rural community, as far removed from the trappings of modernity as you can imagine.
“Despite an early hint of brilliance, his academic ambitions were primarily limited by the humbling circumstances of his parents’ income.
“He had an insatiable hunger for education and would run to school barefoot, desperate to learn.
“When told he wasn’t old enough to be enrolled, he refused to accept that answer. He begged his way into the classroom, driven by a relentless desire to learn.
“That tenacity was the spark that ignited his journey.
“That young lad is standing right before you this afternoon as a testament to the power of education – and a strong advocate for why the doors of education should be open to every child.”
The governor, who earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree, Upper-Class Division, at UEL in 2000 and was twice elected President of the UEL Law Society, noted that the university helped reinforce and shape his life of service.
He charged the UEL Alumni Network Nigeria with rising to the challenge of reshaping Nigeria’s educational system to save the nation’s future.
“Alumni associations should increasingly galvanise action towards creating more endowments and grants. These are vital resources that have sustained universities and fed their independence.
“As universities in the United States experience fundamental changes that ultimately demand an end to the hallowed principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, the few that won’t budge are buoyed mainly by the immense financial support of their alumni base.
“We cannot foretell the future, but we can take actions that could make it look like what we dream it would be. Put simply, nothing empowers like education.
“To reshape Nigeria’s future, we need to understand that our future is inextricably linked to the quality of our education.
“This is why education has consistently received one-third of our total annual budget,” he stated.
Speaking at the event, Prof Issa Abduraheem, President of the UEL Alumni Network Nigeria, described Mbah as a great university ambassador. He cited Mbah’s trailblazing performance across all sectors and pledged the Alumni’s total support.
“There are developments in the education sector. The Smart Green School initiative, which is technologically driven, is in tandem with the vision of the Alumni. We are ready and willing to collaborate with the state government to actualise this noble project.
“Digitising of the whole state by running an E-Government system and digitising the ministry of lands to ENGIS (Enugu State Geographic Information System), and also running smart buses, tax collections are also done digitally in the state,” he stated.
In her virtual address, Vanessa Varvas, Vice President (Engagement) and Chief Marketing Officer of the University, emphasised the place of education and alumni associations in shaping a nation’s future.
The event’s highlight included the presentation of a plaque acknowledging Governor Mbah as the Grand Patron of the Nigerian chapter of the UEL Alumni Network.
