Siminalayi Funara, the Governor of Rivers State, has ordered that government-employed teachers in all of the State’s Senior Secondary Schools be promoted immediately. Governor Fubara issued the directive on Friday, 19 July 2024, at the Government House in Port Harcourt during the installation of the Chairmen and four members each for the Senior Secondary School and Universal Basic Education Boards.

He claimed that the reason the senior cadre promotion process in public schools was put on hold was because the section had previously been led by an Acting Director, who he believed was unfit to be in charge of such a sensitive matter. The substantive board, led by educationist Dr. Sam Umejuru, will now take up the assignment. Speaking highly of his desire to raise the State’s educational standard, the Governor stated that his top budgetary objectives for 2025 will be Agriculture, Healthcare, and Education.

Governor Fubara gave David Briggs, a politician and administrator, the task of enhancing the Universal Basic Education standard set by the previous Chairman and board members. To provide a solid educational foundation for pupils in the state, he challenged Briggs, the recently outgoing Senior Secondary School Board Chairman, to diligently carry out his duties.

According to the Governor, exposure to UBE levels is a prerequisite for a child’s academic success. Regarding their degree of public and civil service experience, he expressed his confidence that the chairs and members of both boards would operate effectively.

Governor Fubara explained that the majority of the appointees, particularly those in the Senior Secondary Schools’ Board, are seasoned educators and administrators who started in the civil service as principals and vice principals. He claimed that the appointees had the chance to oversee him. As a school teacher in the Rivers State Civil Service, Governor Fubara started his professional career.

Dr. Sam Emejuru, the Chairman of the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board, expressed gratitude to the Governor on behalf of his members for selecting them out of the state’s seven million residents for this type of service. “I want to reassure you that we won’t let you down,” he stated. We’re going to do our work quickly, carefully, and relatively to everyone.

“We recognize your strong interest in education and appreciate that. Therefore, we will not play around with the duty placed upon us. We promise you that we won’t let you down. Since you trusted us enough to delegate this task to us, we will deliver.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Mr. David Briggs, the chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board, thanked God and the Governor for putting their trust in them with this kind of responsibility. “Our dedication will be unwavering,” he declared. “Knowing how exacting, detailed, passionate, and, of course, goal-oriented you are, we promise you that we won’t let you down.

“We promise not to let you down. We promise not to let your administration down, nor will we let the people of Rivers State down as a whole. As your foot soldiers, we will stand by your side to help you reach new heights in education you have as a vision for Rivers State.”

Dr. Sam Emejuru was inaugurated as the chairman of the Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board, while Francis Jacob, Dr. Grace Jaja, Jemina Margaret Briggs, and Love Aguma were selected as members. Dr. David Theophilus Briggs is the chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board. The board’s members are Drs. Walson Ominini, Nwuke Anucha, Alom Anyanya Austin-Mba, and Ibiere Pepple, who serves as secretary.

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