NAN-H-35
Accommodation
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, Feb. 22, 2018 (NAN) The Acting Principal, Federal Science and Technical College Yaba, Mrs Jane Nwanah, on Thursday appealed to Federal Government to give priority to teachers’ accommodation in schools, to improve teaching output.
Nwanah made the appeal during the inauguration of 10 units of terrace houses of one bedroom flat each, for teachers of the college in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the houses were constructed by the Trademore Holding International Ltd, a developing firm, in collaboration with Platinum Mortgage Bank.
The project was initiated by the immediate-past principal of the college, Rev. Chris Ugorji, who retired in November 2017.
According to the acting principal, the accommodation will help in improving teaching standards and reposition the general performance of students.
“We are overjoyed with what is happening here today; such developments are rare.
“If we want to reposition education in this country, we must make it holistic and give attention to teachers’ welfare.
“There is no way effective teaching and learning can take place anywhere if those saddled with the responsibility of imparting knowledge are not happy and well rested,’’ Nwanah said.
In his brief remark, Ugorji noted that teaching and learning might be incomplete if the teachers’ welfare is overlooked.
He said that staff and management of the college had long expected the accommodation facility in order to ensure maximum productivity.
According to him, accommodation for teachers and other staff has remained a major challenge, especially in a peculiar city like Lagos.
“There is no way you can carry out services in a place like Lagos without facing the challenge of traffic.
“These teachers are often faced with such challenges every day of the week and it goes a long way in affecting their output,’’ he said.
The Regional Manager of Platinum Mortgage Bank, Lagos, Mrs Urunwa Okpa, said the accommodation was part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the college.
He said the need to put smiles on the faces of the teachers to appreciate their contribution to the nation’s development nfluenced the bank to do the project.
“We know what it means to work and achieve results in a terrain like Lagos.
“Private partnership is the way to go, if we intend to develop this country and become relevant among the comity of nations,’’Okpa said.
Mrs Adebanke Akawo, one of the beneficiaries, lauded the management of the college for the project.
She said that the excitement of the beneficiaries could not be quantified, as the accommodation has brought them relief.
“I am happy to be part of this great news.
“I thank the former principal for initiating this project and ensuring that it becomes a reality.
“This is a milestone achievement and it is just the beginning as far as staff welfare is concerned,’’ Akawo said. (NAN)
CCN/AIB/SOA
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Oluwole Sogunle