Mr Charles Mato, the Paramount Ruler of Pyem Chiefdom in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau, has declared a State of Emergency on education in his domain.

 

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gindiri on Wednesday, Mato explained that the educational backwardness of the chiefdom informed the decision.

 

The traditional ruler said the chiefdom had decided to establish a technical school to train its people on various engineering courses.

 

“I have to declare state of emergency on the education sector in my chiefdom because we discovered that we have to do something drastic and immediate to save the situation.

 

We have decided to set up a technical school which will serve as an avenue for our wards to study engineering courses such as mechanical, civil and electrical and also crafts,” he said.

 

The monarch said that the way and manner things were globally, “it is better to have a skill than just getting a white-collar job for which after retirement the pension is nothing to fall back on”.

 

The paramount ruler, known as the Sum-Pyem, expressed regrets that in spite of the numerous institutions situated in Gindiri, “we are nowhere near our neighbouring communities in terms of education .”

 

He also disclosed that the chiefdom would on Jan. 1, 2016, celebrate its New Year Day and Cultural Day with an Educational Endowment Fund raising for the proposed technical school.

 

According to him, the cultural day is a time all the illustrious sons and daughters of the chiefdom come together to thank the Almighty God for the bumper harvest in the year 2015 and for enabling them to see another New Year, 2016.

 

 

Mato said the Pyem Chiefdom Development Association (PCDA), in conjunction with the Traditional Council, were organising the Cultural Day and the endowment fund raising.

 

 

He said Gov. Simon Lalong would be the Special Guest of Honour, while Prof. Edward Mafuyai, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, would be the Guest Speaker at the cultural day.

 

 

The Sum-Pyem also disclosed that Mr Latep Dabang, State APC Chairman, would be the Chief Fund Raiser of the day, while Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, Waziri Pyem and his wife, Zuwaire Mantu, would serve as the father and mother of the day, respectively.

 

 

He called on all sons and daughters of the chiefdom to partake in the celebration and fund raising in order to give hope to the youths.

 

 

(NAN)