Governor Ifeeanyi Okowa of Delta State has said that the government would provide financial aid to schools returned to religious missions in 2011.
Okowa said the move was to assist the schools run effectively amid the prevailing harsh economic situation in the country.
He stated this at a thanksgiving service to mark the end of the 16th Synod of Asaba Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) held at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Bishop’s Court, Asaba.
First lesson at the service taken from the Ezra 3: 6-13 was read by the governor who also congratulated the new Bishop of the Diocese, Rt. Rev’d Kingsley Obuh, on his consecration and enthronement.
The governor, who was accompanied by his wife, Edith and government functionaries, recalled how the state returned 40 schools to the missions in 2011 and acknowledged that “it is not easy for such schools to be run given the current economic condition of the nation.”
He commended the church for drawing his attention to the plight of the schools, especially his promise to ensure that grants were given to missions to assist them in giving a firm standing to the schools that had been returned to them.
“I have just asked the secretary to the state government to take action on that; the monies may not be too big but it is important that we identify with the churches because we know that it is not easy for them even as it is not easy for the state that runs schools.
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“But for those schools returned to the missions, it is in the best interest of the government of Delta State that they are supported to stand because they provide a space for study for some of our children across the state.
“So, we will try to take action at least in the first tranche of it, to see what we can do to support our missions,” he said.
Okowa commended the church for its contributions to the health sector in the state, saying that their effort would help provide health care services, particularly to the less privileged in the society.
“In so doing, you are helping us to develop the health sector by bringing health closer to our people.
“As a government, we have continued to pay very special attention to education and health and hence our state has become a role model for contributory health insurance with over one million people enrolled in the scheme.
“I want to encourage our people to enrol in the scheme because it is very important as it helps, especially in time of lack. The state government pays for all pregnant women and children under five years of age but for others, there is a premium which is much less than what is paid at the national level,” he stated.
Chigozirim Onyegbule, the bishop, Missionary Diocese of Ikwuano, Abia State, had earlier in his sermon titled, “spiritual foundations inevitable for sustainable work with God”, urged Christians to build a strong foundation in their work with God.
