The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) on Wednesday, September 11, announced a significant initiative to upgrade the infrastructure of 50 senior secondary schools across Nigeria. This announcement was made by Dr. Iyela Ajayi, the Commission’s Executive Secretary, during a groundbreaking ceremony held at one of the selected schools in Koton Karfe, Kogi State.
Dr. Ajayi explained that a thorough NEEDS assessment had been conducted for these schools, in line with a directive from President Bola Tinubu aimed at enhancing educational infrastructure. He detailed that the first phase of this initiative, which includes the upgrade of 50 schools, is estimated to cost N47.5 billion.
The NEEDS assessment, a systematic method for identifying and addressing gaps between current conditions and desired outcomes, guided this process.
Dr. Ajayi emphasized that this is merely the beginning of a multi-phase project. He assured that upon completing the first phase, the Commission would report progress to the President and the Minister of Education, setting the stage for subsequent phases. He urged patience from schools not included in the first phase, promising that they would be addressed in future phases.
NSSEC, established in 2021 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is tasked with overseeing and supporting senior secondary schools throughout the country.