Mr Okey Ezea, the governorship candidate for All Progressive Congress (APC) in Enugu State, has promised to provide free education in the state, if elected.
He made the promise in an interview by telephone with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
“One of the questions people often ask is how can free education be financed?
“Once we adequately exploit our sources of internally generated revenue, the question is answered.
“We can generate money from busy centres of business in the state such as Enugu Metropolis, Nsukka, Udi, Awgu, Oji and also the huge agricultural potential that we have yet to tap,’’ he said.
Ezea noted that the state required necessary political will to provide free education which he promised to educe in governance if he was elected.
“In addition, I intend to effect 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees charged by higher institutions in the state.
‘I want to also institute a bursary scheme for students of Enugu State origin in other tertiary institutions’’, he said.
He said that his government would also introduce a scholarship programme for indigent students of Enugu State origin in tertiary institutions.
“As part of our plans to re-invigorate education sector, we shall upgrade the quality of teachers in all our schools and reactivate the inspectorate department in the state ministry of education,’’ he said.
Ezea also promised to bring the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) to higher standard.(NAN)
