By Our Reporter
Members of the Pan African Good Governance Council (PAGGC) have presented an award of recognition to the Executive Chairman, Cross River State Universal Basic Education (CR-SUBEB), Dr. Stephen Odey in recognition of his outstanding achievements and commitment to the advancement of good governance in Africa.
The award which was presented at the office of the Cross River SUBEB Executive Chairman in Calabar as part of the Council’s annual Good Governance Indicators Programme was also to honour Dr. Odey as one of the top ten best performing appointees in Cross River State and to further appoint him as a “Pan African Good Governance Ambassador.”
The leader of the delegation Prof. Austin Angba said Dr. Odey has distinguished himself and has shown excellence in service delivery, especially in the basic education sub-sector.
Prof. Angba said the Council which was established in 2010 as a watch-dog to promote, enforce and encourage good governance amongst African States, also celebrates and honours individuals who have made immeasurable impacts in their roles in governance and leadership.
Responding, the Executive Chairman, Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Stephen Odey, expressed gratitude to the Council for the honour, describing it as a humbling experience. He added that the gesture will spur him to greater heights.
Extending gratitude to Governor Ben Ayade, Dr. Odey stated that strides recorded in the basic education sub-sector would not have been possible without the governor’s commitment to ensuring that Cross River becomes a leading state in basic education.
Speaking on some of the achievements recorded by the Prof. Ben Ayade-led administration in the basic education sub-sector, Odey said the Board has been able to address key challenges confronting the basic education sector.
According to him “We have to leave a legacy, by the time we leave here people should have positive stories to tell. We may not be perfect but we have been able to address some key issues that had bedevilled the basic education sub sector.
“This is the first time we have uncovered about 1, 500 teachers with fake certificates, for the first time we have been able to conduct a recruitment exercise where teachers were subjected to open interview and only the best were employed, and money was not collected from any applicant.
“We are currently running three model junior secondary schools in Akpabuyo, Abi and Yala LGAs. We are constantly building and rehabilitating our school structures across the State and we are poised to do more in the years to come,” He reiterated.