Akwa Ibom pays N720m exam fees for students

The Akwa Ibom Government has paid N720 million this year on various examination fees for students in the secondary schools in the state.
A breakdown shows that N436 million fee was paid for West African Examinations Council, N46 million for National Business and Technical Examinations Board while N238 million went to schools’ heads for logistics.
Governor Godswill Akpabio, who stated this on Saturday during the National Flag-off ceremony of the distribution of instructional materials for basic education school in Nigeria, held at Methodist Central Primary School, Etoi, Uyo, said this was done to support the free, compulsory education policy of the state government.
Akpabio said: “Akwa Ibom State would continue to support the Federal Government in the education sector.
“Already, we have put in over N238 million for logistics to schools heads in the state.
“We have renovated over 2,000 classroom blocks, put in N436 million for WAEC registration and paid N46 million for NAPTEB fees, while over 1.7 million children in the state are enrolled in both the primary and secondary schools.
“We have taken the responsibility in educating Nigerian children through our free and compulsory education.
“We have also encouraged teachers by increment of their salaries because we do appreciate the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan through education.
“And I see a great future for Nigerian children where insecurity would come to an end.
“For a child with education would know his right from his wrong and would not indulge in crimes and I believe with this event today, every Nigerian child would be grateful to the government of Nigeria for taking education as a main priority in the country.”
Also speaking, on the increase.
Represented by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Jonathan further disclosed that the Federal Government has provided 96,326,725 books in English Language, Mathematics, Basic Science/Technology, Social Studies and Library materials to public schools for distribution.
He said the efforts of the Federal Government is to provide quality education in schools and redouble efforts in other sectors.