Bayelsa education development trust fund bolsters learning across 225 schools
In a decisive move to strengthen educational infrastructure in Bayelsa State, the Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) on Tuesday distributed a wide array of educational and learning materials to 225 public secondary schools and five technical colleges.
The gesture, initiated by the former governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Seriake Dickson, is aimed at enhancing the quality of teaching and learning across the state, .
The donation, which reached schools in all eight Local Government Areas, included essential classroom furniture such as desks and chairs, specialised technical drawing and studio equipment, textbooks, notebooks, teaching aids, and lesson note diaries, among other items.
Professor Ebimieowei Etebu, Executive Secretary of the EDTF, described the handover ceremony as a significant milestone for stakeholders in the state’s education sector.
Speaking at the event, he expressed deep appreciation to the Bayelsa State Government for its unwavering support of the Trust Fund’s initiatives.
“I am proud of the partnership that exists between the EDTF and other education stakeholders. It demonstrates the power of a shared vision in building a brighter future for our children,” Etebu said.
He emphasised the transformative role of education, citing Nelson Mandela’s famous assertion that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
According to Etebu, the materials provided go beyond their physical function.
“These learning tools are gateways to unlocking potential, sparking curiosity, and nurturing a lifelong love for learning among our young people.
”In Bayelsa, we are equipping the next generation to become leaders, innovators, and trailblazers,” he added.
Echoing these sentiments, Dr. Gentle Emelah, Bayelsa’s Commissioner for Education, commended the EDTF for its consistent dedication as an interventionist agency in the state’s education sector.
She highlighted the Fund’s previous achievements under past boards, noting measurable improvements in student learning outcomes across the state.
High Chief Fidelis Agbiki, Chairman of the EDTF Board, cautioned school principals and beneficiaries to use the donated materials responsibly.
“Our board operates on a principle of ‘Business Unusual,’ and we prioritize monitoring and evaluation.
”The materials are meant solely to promote learning, and we expect full compliance from school administrators,” he stated.
Dr. Daniel Charles, Chairman of the Bayelsa House of Assembly Committee on Education, urged the Fund to ensure that schools in rural and remote communities were included in future distributions, stressing the need for equitable access to educational resources.
Representing the public secondary schools that received the materials, Mr. Ibegu Robins, Principal of Government Model Secondary School, Ogbia, expressed gratitude to the EDTF.
He noted that nearly 95 per cent of students in public schools across Bayelsa would directly benefit from the intervention, underscoring the impact of the initiative on improving educational standards statewide.
The donation marks a continued commitment by the Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund to support the state’s educational framework and nurture an empowered, knowledge-driven generation.
