Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has reaffirmed that the Enugu Smart Green Schools will resume on Monday, September 22, 2025, for the 2025/26 academic session, in line with his earlier promise.
Mbah, who spoke in a statewide broadcast on Monday, described the Smart Green Schools initiative as the most personal and transformative project of his administration, and a bold step towards preparing Enugu’s children for a future of innovation, self-reliance, and global competitiveness.
He emphasized that the project was not merely about erecting classrooms, but about “building the soul of our people” and “equipping the next generation to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
According to him: “Africa today is the youngest continent in the world, with over 60 per cent of its people under 25 years. This is not just a statistic—it is a summons. Our sovereignty begins in the classroom; the destiny of African nations rests on what we nurture in the minds and hands of our children.”
The governor explained that each of the 260 Smart Green Schools was designed as a complete learning ecosystem, comprising 25 digitally connected classrooms, ICT centers, robotics and AI laboratories, e-libraries, and spaces for hands-on learning.
“There is solar energy to power facilities. There is a smart farm where pupils learn agriculture by planting, growing, and harvesting crops themselves. Children will receive free uniforms, books, meals, and tablets. Each school will also have a medical clinic, reliable water supply, teachers’ quarters, and a community hall to keep the school at the heart of village life,” he said.
On the challenges of completing some of the Smart Green School projects, Mbah assured parents and stakeholders that no school’s academic calendar would be disrupted.
“Some schools open today, some next week, and others in a fortnight. We do not claim perfection, but we claim resolve. By all means, every school shall open this term,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of safeguarding the facilities, urging communities to protect and cherish the schools as shared treasures.
“These schools are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Guard them as you would your own children,” he said.
Governor Mbah further pledged to continue professional development and support for teachers in the state to ensure “child-centered and competency-based learning.”
“If we can raise children whose minds are sharp, whose hands are skilled, and whose hearts are strong, we will set our own agenda. We will no longer seek relevance on the world stage—we will shape it,” he added.
