Ondo partners Catholic Church on Education development, sets to regain lost glory
Ondo State government is to collaborate with Catholic Church to transform the educational sector in the State with a view to regaining its lost glory in the sector. Similarly, the State is to embark, through its through its Quality Education Assurance Agency, on a rescue package for English Language and Mathematics this year.
The State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who stated this in his office on Wednesday while playing host to the retired catholic Bishop of Akure Diocese, Most Rev Francis Alonge and his successor, Most Rev Jude Arogundade, affirmed that the Catholic Church in Nigeria was renowned for excellence and quality education. He equally expressed his determination to ensure that Ondo State regains its pristine position in the sector by ensuring that students have credit in Mathematic and English Language henceforth.
According to Mimiko, as a product of quality primary and secondary education through catholic missionary church, he appreciated the willingness of the new Bishop to offer necessary assistance to reform the sector, describing education as the bedrock for the transformation of any nation.
He disclosed that his administration, through its Quality Education Assurance Agency would embark on rescue package for English Language and Mathematics this year.
He said 'Catholic church worldwide is known for quality education. In fact the church is a symbol of excellence. We are going to leverage on the willingness of our lord bishop to partner with us in this critical sector of our development. Government has the inherent capacity and resources to transform this state and this we shall continue to do'.
However, Governor Mimiko congratulated retired Bishop Francis Alonge on his retirement from the service, describing him as a frank and courageous man of God, who was never afraid to tell the truth at all times.
'For us in this state, you represent the very quintessence of everything good, and I'm saying this with all dignity and forthrightness. We'll continue to celebrate people like you sir. People, who will never shy away from telling the truth whatever the situation. We are proud to have you from this state'. Said Mimiko.
Earlier in his speech, the incumbent Bishop, Most Rev Jude Arogundade, assured the Governor of his determination to utilize his knowledge as an educationalist for the transformation of the sector in partnership with the state government.
Bishop Arogundade called for people's support for the laudable projects of the Mimiko administration, which he said were all physical and aimed at genuinely turning around the lives of the people.
Also in his speech, retired Bishop Francis Alonge, who formally introduced the new bishop to the Governor, thanked the state government for its support and solicited government's assistance in the completion of the church's pastoral centre in Akure.