By Inusa Ndahi, Damaturu
The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, has donated food and non-food items, such as beds, mattresses to Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, GGSTC, Dapchi.
The donation was part of the agency’s continued support, as about 14 girls of the college scored A1 in Mathematics, with credits in English and other arts and science subjects in the 2023 West African Examination Council, WAEC.
Recall that GGSTC Dapchi came under attack on 19th February, 2018 by suspected members of the dreaded Boko Haram with abduction of about 110 female students between the ages of 11-19 years old.
Unfortunately, controversy arose when the insurgents few days later returned/freed all the victims, and refused to free the only Christian girl, Miss Leah Sharibu, who was forced to renounce her faith, but she declined.
Speaking to journalists on Monday in Damaturu, the state capital, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Dr Mohammed Goje, said that the donation of the food and non-food items to the school is to cushion economic hardship of the resilient students, staff and guardians, as well as boost enrolment, encourage girl-child education and motivate teachers.
Goje said, “As part of our partners Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, and SEMA’s support to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, schools; schools from communities affected by conflict are periodically supported to boost enrolment, encourage girl-child education and motivate teachers.
“GGSTC, Dapchi, despite the February 2018 incidence, was not discouraged, they became resilient and continued schooling. This year, those who witnessed the incident were in JSS1 then, but were able to complete their Senior Secondary School Certificate, SSCE, and most interestingly with flying colours in the just-concluded 2023 WAEC.
“14 Dapchi Girls got A1 in Mathematics in addition to As and Cs in other subjects along side many others who passed with 9 credits. This is more encouraging as many of the girls are from rural communities with little or no option than to study in Dapchi.”
He however presented the items, aimed at supporting the school, teachers and students, which include: 80 bunk beds, 100 pieces of Matresses, UTME fee for the 22 students, including the 14 who had A1 in Mathematics; food basket to 21 SS3 teachers, including examination officers.
The Executive Secretary of Science and Technical Education Board, Dr Dauda Atiyaye, who recieved the items in his office alongside the principal and the pupils, thanked SEMA and Governor Mai Mala Buni, and called on other schools to emulate GGSTC, Dapchil, assuring them of the boards continued support in providing enabling environment for teaching and learning.
