November 20, 2023.
Senator Stephen Odey Ph D Cross River State Commissioner for Education, received the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Calabar field officers headed by Mr Mohamed Nafion, Head of field office Calabar, Mrs Irene Omondi, Head of Sub office Ogoja, and Mr Richard Effiong Protection Associate Calabar, in his office today Monday on a courtesy call.
Mrs Omondi on behalf of the body congratulated the Commissioner on his appointment and made some peculiar request which included lack of teachers in some of their schools and host communities, payments of WAEC fee for Refugee children, inclusion of Refugees children in State Scholarship, provision of basic infrastructures, free education and enrolment of Refugees children in public schools.
The Commissioner welcomed and thanked them for coming, he applauded them for the infrastructural development and job done so far in their various settlements and assured them of partnership.
Continuing, the Commissioner informed them of his readiness to make their request known to the Governor for his kind consideration and possible approval to employ additional teachers to address the dearth of teachers in the state and thereafter attention will be given to their other requests. He also
asked for a comprehensive data of Refugees children in Cross River State and number of schools in operation for further consideration whenever approval is given for any intervention, while noting that the free tuition and free WAEC registration was only for Cross River indigenes as he will however, discuss with the Governor about the new development.
Senator Odey, promised that the State Ministry of Education will partner with them and other development partners in the education sector.
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