· The former transport minister calls for more funding of FG Colleges
By Ignatius Chukwu
He was a highly respected naval chief. He was a one-time minister of transport in this country. He was a sports enthusiast and lover of youth activities. He was a diplomat. He was member of the FGGC parents association. He played host to first-ever Ijaw-born Most Beautiful Girl in the World, Agbani Darego. He easily plays host to good people and good things. On Fathers Day 2023, he did it again. He is the retired but probably not tired Rear-Admiral Festus Porbeni.
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One-time Minister of Transport, Rear-Admiral Festus Porbei (Rtd), has placed a call for more funding of Federal Government Colleges in Nigeria.
The former minister made the call when the class of 1991 of Federal Government Girls College Abulouma in Rivers state, paid him a visit in his Port Harcourt home to honour him on Fathers Day 2023.
Porbeni, who said education remained the cornerstone of Nigeria’s development said the federal government colleges represent a practical intervention step into secondary school education by the government at the centre.
Nigeria runs a three-tier system of government which places secondary education on the laps of state governments, but the FG established 104 Unity Schools to set the pace and standard of middle term education in the country after the civil war.
Calls have continued to rise for adequate funding of the Unity Schools (Federal Government Schools) to maintain the standards already set.
Porbeni also appealed to old students’ associations to mobilize funds for Federal Government Colleges.
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government College Abuloma Class of 1991 to which his daughter belongs for the auspicious visit on Fathers Day, saying those who honour the aged would enjoy old age.
The FGGC Class of 1991 was led by the chairperson (Josephine Nzidee), publicity secretary, (Winifred Fred Igwe), financial secretary/treasurer (Winifred Ezeani), and one of the daughters of the Rear Admiral (Bikepere Dan Kalio). The chairperson, Nzidee, gave the objectives of the group and the efforts to keep the old students united for the good of the school.
Also speaking, one of the old students, Bikepere Dan Kalio, daughter of the Rear Admiral, said Rear Admiral Porbeni was worthy of honour and respect especially on Fathers Day because he is regarded in the Niger Delta as father of fathers.
She said it is important to celebrate dearly beloved fathers while they are still alive.
The visit was auspicious and conveyed huge honour on such an elder statesman, and he seemed to receive the honour on behalf of all elders.
