By Emmanuel Ike-Jonathan, JP.
Barr. Nestor Ezeme proved and showcased capacity all through his days at the Post Primary School Management Board (PPSMB) where he served as the Executive Chairman of the board for two consecutive terms of Three Years in the first tenure and two years in the second tenure in line with the PPSMB Laws which does not allow a chairman of the board serve beyond five years of two tenures.
Considering his sterling performances and immense contributions to the reformations currently being experienced in the post primary schools (Secondary Schools) across the state, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State who believes rewarding committed appointees/staff in his government, again appointed Barr. Ezeme to serve as the Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.
One of the worthy qualities of Barr. Ezeme throughout his days at the PPSMB was his high-powered managerial acumen coupled with humility, respect and simplicity. His doors were constantly open to all and sundry. He was ready to listen to all irrespective of class.
It will be recalled that a mild drama occurred at the premises of the PPSMB when one of the many visitors that trooped Barr. Ezeme’s office as the Executive Chairman of the board, heard that Ezeme was no longer the Chairman of the PPSMB board. She immediately fell on the ground complaining, weeping and asking the people around of the offense that Barr. Ezeme committed that made the Governor relieve him of his appointment as the Executive Chairman of the PPSMB board?
All efforts to explain to the woman that Barr. Ezeme has served out his statutory two tenures as Chairman of the PPSMB board fell on deaf ears as the woman kept rolling herself on the ground and weeping profusely asking why should Governor Ugwuanyi remove Barr. Ezeme from the PPSMB. It took much explantations and persuasions from the people around to get the woman convinced that Barr Ezeme did not commit any offense but has officially served out his two tenures as chairman of the PPSMB.
Under Barr Ezeme’s tenure as the Executive Chairman of the PPSMB board, close to two thousand teaching and non teaching staff were recruited, hundreds of secondary schools were built, reconstructed and renovated to provide the right ambiance for learning. A total of two hundred and ninety four secondary schools have received computers and the needed accessories in government’s computerization programme aimed at repositioning post primary school education in the state.
Specifically each of the schools received ten desktop computers, ten computer tables with seats, ten UPS, 3KVA generator, one printer and internet access. To ensure that the essence of the computerization programme were utilized, an annual practical computer contest tagged Gburugburu Practical Computer Competition was instituted by the Governor as a way to motivate the students and teachers to take the learning and applications of ICT serious.
To underline the derivable benefits from the massive investment in this regard, Enugu State was voted the best in ICT infrastructure development in Nigeria during the National Council on Communication Technology Conference which was held at Abeokuta, Ogun state in November 2018.
Other worthwhile interventions include the supply and distribution of science equipment and chemicals to over 120 secondary schools in the state. The upgrade of Boys High School, Orba and Youth Centre, Mpu to Command Science Secondary School and Command Science and Technical School respectively.
In terms of welfare, staff under the post primary school sector have received their arrears and promotion from 2013 -2019 and they have continued to receive their salaries as at when due including the new minimum wage that took effect from February 2020.
According to Barr Ezeme in an interview with newsmen before the expiration of his second tenure as the Chairman of PPSMB, “As you know, Model Secondary School, Nsukka emerged the fifth best in the recently concluded President’s Merit Award in the public schools category while Girls Secondary School, Abakpa-Nike, Enugu took the first position in the Essay competition organized for secondary schools in Nigeria by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) not long ago.
“The honours testify to the sound secondary education that is now available and accessible in our state. They all go to show the outstanding investments that our Governor (Ugwuanyi) has made in public education. I don’t need a soothsayer to tell me that the future of secondary education, and education generally in Enugu State, is very bright. This accounts for why there is mass exodus of students from private schools coming back to the public schools that they hitherto abandoned.
“Today, more than seventy percent of our students record six credits including English and Mathematics in both WAEC and NECO examinations in the past two years. To maximize output, we effectively ensured the training and retraining of our staff while also eradicating examination malpractices and other forms of social vices from our schools.”
Upon the release of the news of Barr Ezeme’s appointment as the Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, there were thunderous celebrations across the state and enormous commendations were poured on the Governor for rewarding excellence and commitment to service.
There is no doubt whatsoever that Barr. Nestor Ezeme will bring forward his hitherto wealth of experience and rich intellectual property to bear in the discharge of his new responsibilities that will greatly lead to the repositioning of the Enugu State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board. Congratulations once again to a great achiever!!!
Ike-Jonathan, JP, writes from Alor-Agu in Igbo-Eze South LGA, Enugu State.
