...SAYS ITS ATTRACTING DEVELOPMENT TO PLATEAU


The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has commended Plateau State Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong, for championing the restoration and consolidation of peace and reconciliation in the state, saying it has returned Plateau to its Home of Peace and Tourism status and keeps attracting development and investments. 


Adamu made the commendation through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Architect Sonny Ochono, who recently visited the Plateau State Governor, at Government House in Jos, the State capital as part of the continuation technical visit of the Ministry in preparation to the take-off of the Federal Polytechnic, Shendam, to brief Lalong on the approved site for the establishment of the Federal institution of learning. 


Ochono said the technical team from the Ministry of Education has taken preliminary visit to various sites in Shendam Local Government Area and submitted its findings with Nyak being favoured as the chosen site for the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic. 

He said, “I am here at the behest of the Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu on what we now call the open end of our visit. This is actually the second visit in connection with this institution. Our first visit was a reconnaissance one, we didn’t contact the State Government and we did not make it public. But we did look at the various options in the location of the institution and we made recommendations. I am pleased to inform you that based on the criteria we worked out to stimulate development and foster access, Nyak in Shendam Local Government Area was approved by Mr. President. On this second visit therefore, another 10 member Technical Team is here to meet with some of the officials of the State Government on some of the policies and logistics of the school. They will go to the site and assess the condition to discuss further the sharing of responsibilities on what we see as the facilities that the State Government should assist to provide. We believe that on-site facilities are the responsibility of the institution while off-site facilities will require the assistance of the State Government."


The Perm Sec added that facilities such as access road to the site, power lines and water body for treatment are the immediate concerns that will be addressed in collaboration with the State Government. And that already, President Buhari has approved 2 billion naira for the takeoff of the institution.


According to him, the visit report of the 10-man technical committee will further advise whether the Polytechnic should start on a temporary facility or on the permanent site.


In his response, Governor Lalong assured the Permanent Secretary that the people of Plateau State, Shendam Local Government as well as the host community of Nyak are all eager for the take-off of the school which will accelerate educational development, skill acquisition and job creation.


He said that Plateau State Government will do its part in providing any needed assistance for the success of the institution.


On its part, the 10-member Technical Team led by Mallam Musa Mohammed Isgogo, a Director from the National Board for Technical Education and the Chief of Staff to the Plateau State Governor, Noel Donjur have visited the approved site in Nyak. 


During their visit, they inspected the vast land provided as permanent site of the Polytechnic, access roads and other facilities for power, water and security. They also inspected some Schools and hospitals currently being constructed under the Lalong Legacy projects in Nyak and Shendam before paying a visit to the Paramount ruler, the Long Gamai of Shendam, Miskoom Martin Shaldas III who expressed excitement and appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong for the establishment of a Federal Tertiary institution in the Southern Zone of the State.