FCTA commissions PTA’s multimillion Naira lodge for NYSC members at GSS G/Lada

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its Secondary Education Board (SEB), yesterday commissioned a multimillion Naira block of 2- bedroom semi–detached bungalow constructed and furnished by the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Government Secondary School, Gwagwalada, in Abuja.
It was gathered that the facility, fully funded through PTA charges of N3,000 per term, as an intervention project to help meet the accomodation needs of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that will be posted to serve in the school.
Speaking during the Commissioning ceremony inside the school premises, SEB’s Director/Secretary, Dr. Mohamed Sani Ladan, said the lodge is well equipped with modern facilities as an abode to pave way for a comfortable and secured environment for Corps members, to enhance their productivity in the school.
Ladan described the lodge as a symbol of unity that will foster a sense of togetherness and cooperation among all stakeholders.
He added that the PTA involvement in the project is an embodiments of their unwavering dedication to enhancing the educational experience and supporting the larger community.
He said: “It will solve the problem of accomodation for NYSC members posted to the school, so we appreciate the PTA. And since last week I have been going from one school to the other, commissioning intervention projects donated by PTA of different schools.”
He added that the facility is one out of many that are coming to help improve the learning environment, as the Board is encouraging principals to do more through the PTA, as government alone cannot do it.
He therefore advised those who are going to use the facility, to ensure that they utilise and put it to good use and maintain it, while giving the students the best during their primary assignments.
The NYSC FCT Coordinator, Mrs. Winifred Shokpeka, who represented NYSC director-general, Brig. Gen Y.D Ahmed, noted that the NYSC places premium on the welfare and security of Corps member where ever they are located.
She said the laudable effort of building the lodge underscores one item in the policy thrust of the Director-General, which is improving the security, welfare of corps members and staff to engender optimal service delivery to the nation.
“I therefore, commend your foresight and urge other organizations and corps employers to emulate this kind gesture by prioritizing corps welfare and security in order to get the best out of corps members”, the NYSC scribe stressed.
On his part, the school PTA Chairman, Pastor John Okolo, disclosed that the project was conceived early 2022, and the groundbreaking ceremony was done in March, 2023.
According to him: “For the building and furnishing of the edifice, we shanked at least 17 million Naira plus, strictly through PTA charges of N3,000 per term.
“With the little token of N3,000 (PTA charges), grace and fear of God we were able to get this done. And we are really ready to do more if the chance is given, knowing fully well the state of our noble nation.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the school principal, Mr. Victor Orifah, said the facility was conceived considering the manpower gap the school was facing in the area of teaching staff and the critical role the corp members can play to close this gap.
Noting that lack of accommodations for those posted to the school has in the past made it difficult to retain corp members, the Principal implored the NYSC to post corp members in areas of the school’s needs, believing that the facility will impact positively on the tone of the entire school.
“The PTA of this school has been very proactive in the sense that this project being commissioned today is only an addition to the many interventions of the PTA, which includes the regular payment of the salaries of staff on the payroll of the PTA”, he stated.