ENUGU: Governor Mbah states that innovative strategy is reversing the fortunes of Enugu at a seminar in London,

At a seminar in London, Governor Mbah states that our innovative strategy is reversing the fortunes of Enugu.

Given Nigeria’s brand of presidential federalism, which disproportionately concentrates the nation’s resources in the national capital and impedes audacious social and economic development, governor of Enugu State Dr. Peter Mbah claims that only radical thinking and innovative approaches to governance, like those taken by his administration, could spur rapid economic development in the 36 states of the country.

The governor made these remarks on Thursday night at the London School of Economics (LSE) during a public lecture titled “Enugu State, Nigeria: New Political Leadership; Bold Economic Vision – Spotlight on the Health and Education Strategies.”

According to Mbah, Nigeria’s current circumstances call for daring and unconventional solutions that result from thinking outside the box. For this reason, his administration has implemented drastic policies and programs in the areas of health, education, security, water and road infrastructure, as well as an ambitious economic plan.

“Our goal to grow the economy of Enugu State seven-fold is the single boldest projection that encapsulates what we intend to accomplish,” he stated. Put simply, our goal is to increase the state’s GDP in the next four to eight years from the $4.4 billion that we currently have to at least $30 billion.

“The goal of achieving a zero percent poverty headcount index in Enugu State is another audacious plan.”

However, he noticed that achieving the goals would be heavily reliant on the state’s workforce’s wellness. For this reason, his government launched a number of health-related initiatives and innovations, some of which had already shown results in the short time he had been in office.

In our state, the rates of infant and mother mortality are declining, although only slightly. We are continuously removing variables that typically result in maternal and under-5 fatalities, such as the lack of trained birth attendants in medical institutions, such as physicians, nurses, and midwives. We have increased the percentage of newborns attended to by qualified medical professionals at our facilities from 39 percent prior to the election to 42 percent. By the end of 2025, we hope to reach a 100 percent threshold.

Furthermore, we have increased childhood vaccine coverage for all vaccine-preventable diseases by a large margin for children who have turned one year old. Additionally, more people are now receiving Ante-Natal Care for the first time.

Additionally, we are constructing brand-new Level 2 healthcare facilities in each of our state’s 260 electoral wards. Every center is equipped with the required tools, water, sanitary and hygienic facilities, doctor and nurse quarters, and a backup power source.

“We conduct regular recruitment efforts to decrease the deficit where there is a shortfall, particularly with regard to doctors and nurses who have been leaving to the West in huge numbers. The objective is to reduce the state’s doctor-to-patient ratio to one physician for every 600 patients, as advised by the World Health Organization, the governor stated.

No country has ever outperformed its public education system, he continued, which is why his administration has made significant investments in education that prioritize accessibility, relevance, and quality in order to drive the transformation.

This year’s budget allocation by our government for education serves as an example of its resolve. With a budget for education of N158.78 billion, our state has the highest per capita spending in the nation. This state in Nigeria has the greatest budget allotted to education of any in Nigeria, accounting for 33 percent of the overall budget. Furthermore, it is far more than the standard that UNESCO recommends, which is between 15 and 20 percent of the entire yearly budget. It might be the highest in the world, if I may say so. Consider this: It suggests that 33 Naira are allocated to the education budget for every 100 Naira spent.

“We make sure a child is enrolled in a system that equips them with the necessary abilities to compete in today’s world tomorrow at the age of three. Children ought to be able to apply what they have learned today. This is the basic idea behind our Smart Schools program.

In light of this, our Smart Green Schools program offers an audacious and innovative solution to the educational problem we faced upon taking office. This is due to the fact that we have established enough incentives for parents to bring their kids to school, not the least of which is our Free School Meal Plus program for students. This program includes a medical component that allows for the monitoring of important student health data, including growth profile, various deficiencies, and vaccination status.

An interactive digital whiteboard, an internet connection, a robotics and artificial intelligence center, a contemporary ICT center, two science labs, a hybrid multimedia library, a creative production studio, 25 inclusive classrooms, and 700 Android tablets are all features of each Smart School.

“We hope to bridge the skills gap and impart experiential knowledge through these, which leaves our students with dismal prospects in a globalized world,” he said in closing.