The owners of 40 Delta State Government-returned mission schools have received a N400 million grant to upgrade their facilities in order to improve teaching and learning from the State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Mr. Patrick Ukah, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), presented cheques to the beneficiaries in his office in Asaba, the state capital.
Ukah stated that following the handover of the schools to the owners, the missions requested a grant from the state government to enable them to run the schools effectively.
He stated that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa announced the grant at the sixth Synod of the Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, last year.
The SSG said the approval was subsequently ratified by the State Executive Council (SEC) for implementation, adding that the gesture was in appreciation of the important role played by the missions in building moral rectitude and peaceful co-existence in the society.
Ukah expressed the hope that the grant would help the missions towards upgrading and running the schools effectively.
He listed the beneficiaries as African Church, Warri Diocese with one school, Anglican Church, Asaba Diocese, with three schools; Anglican Church, Oleh Diocese, two schools and Anglican Church, Ughelli Diocese with one school.
Others are Anglican Church, Warri Diocese, one school, Baptist Church Convention, four schools, Catholic Church, Issele-uku Diocese, 11 schools, Catholic Church Warri Diocese, 15 schools and Catholic Church, Bomadi Vicariate with one school.
Bishop of Warri Catholic Diocese, Bishop Anthony Ewherido, who was represented by Rev. Fr. Christopher Ekabo, thanked the state government for the gesture and prayed God to grant the governor and his team their ambitions and wisdom to enable them to finish strong.
