Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has allayed concerns among Church leaders that the Smart Green Schools initiative could diminish the Church’s role in the state’s basic education system, assuring them that his administration considers the Church an indispensable partner in educational development.

Mbah acknowledged the historic contributions of the Church to education in Enugu State, the defunct Eastern Region and Nigeria, stressing that no responsible government could afford to disregard its legacy and continuing role in shaping the educational system.

The governor gave the assurance in his keynote address at the 38th Convention of the Canon Law Society of Nigeria (CLSN), held alongside the celebration of the 95th birthday of the society’s founder and former Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Rev. Anthony Gbuji, at the Ghost Cathedral, Enugu, yesterday.

In the address entitled “Role of the Church in Shaping Education and Development in Enugu State,” Mbah said concerns had been raised about whether the scale of government’s investment in public schools would leave Church-owned institutions behind.

“I understand that concern. These are institutions that have educated generations of our people. Their leaders have every reason to care about their place in Enugu’s educational future. So, I want to answer them directly.

“The Church is essential to the educational transformation we are undertaking.”

It would be deeply counterproductive for government to invest in a new system of learning while allowing Church educators and institutions to become disconnected from it.

“We need you in our basic education system. We need your teachers, your experience and your continuing commitment to the development of our children,” he said.

The governor, however, urged Church educators to embrace emerging methods of teaching and learning while preserving the values and traditions that had distinguished their contribution to education.

The high point of the event was the presentation of an Award of Excellence to Mbah in recognition of his accomplishments in the governance of Enugu State.

The award was presented by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga. (The Guardian)