By Samuel Ogude
It is no news that one of the secondary schools to be reckoned with in the 25 local government areas across Delta State in terms of infrastructure and academic performance both in internal and external examinations and extra -curricular activities such as sports among others, is Essi College 1 in Warri in Warri South Local Government Area in Delta State.
Over the years, the school has continued to graduate students of impeccable character and learning and have continued to maintain its standard as students who have graduated from the school are doing well in their chosen careers: Law, Engineering, Journalism, among others, even the present Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Emomotimi Guwor is a product of the enviable institution.
These feats would not have been possible without government’s premium to maintain its set standard and of course, the Old Boys Association which is headed by its President, World Wide ,Chief Sylvester Bighoro JP, playing their roles in ensuring that the school becomes one of the best in this regard.
To demonstrate government’s commitment to continue to maintain its standard by ensuring the management, staff and students operate in conducive atmosphere, the state government in conjunction with Chevron Company PLC deemed it necessary to construct this edifice in addition to the existing school structures.
This gigantic building, which has been under lock and key for the past years, no doubt, when commissioned, would be, apart from creating an avenue for staff’s offices, would provide more classrooms for students to learn effectively as the structure also contain a first class e- learning facility for teaching and learning to take place effectively.
In an interview with the Principal of the school, Mr. Michael Aderha Erhimedafe, he expressed gratitude for the government to have deemed it necessary to construct this edifice in addition to the existing structures even when he was not posted to the school then.
According to him, the building would further give space for the staff to carry out their work and more classrooms for students to learn computers and others. He said, his joy would know no bound if the state government can commission the building to enable the school put it into use.
He said:” l first and foremost commend the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education headed at present by Mrs Rose Ezewu and state government which is led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the past Education Commissioners and Governors Chief James Ibori, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and of course, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa for their roles over the years to make the school a standard one”.
He said, although, the edifice was built prior his resumption of office as the Principal of the school, he commended the various governments to have made it possible. He therefore appealed to the state government through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to commission the building to enable the school authority put it into use, saying, the building can’t be lying fallow when the Principal and teachers need offices to carry out their job in one hand and students need classrooms to learn in another, for effective teaching and learning to take place.
The Principal used the medium to thank the host community’s Chiefs, Elders(men and women) and youths for their support of the schools saying, it is in conjunction with them that there is existence of peace in the school today.
Speaking in the same vein, the Head-boy and Head-girl of the school, Master Edafe Okuazu and Miss Oyinsi Goodness expressed joy for the state government to have given them the edifice in addition to the structures they have and therefore made passionate appeal to the state government through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to commission the building to enable them use it.