YSUBEB hails NEDC for constructing Arikime Mega School to ease overcrowding in Potiskum
Story by Kasim Isa MUHAMMAD
The Yobe State Universal Basic Education Board (YSUBEB) has applauded the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) for constructing and handing over a mega school in Potiskum aimed at easing the severe congestion at Arikime Primary School.
The commendation was made by the Executive Secretary of YSUBEB, Alhaji Isa Shettima, during the official handover ceremony held on Tuesday.
He described the project as a timely and impactful intervention that addresses a major infrastructural challenge in the state’s basic education sector.
“We are commending the NEDC for this school. This intervention is timely, strategic, and impactful. The construction of this new facility will go a long way in addressing the alarming congestion of pupils at the existing Arikime Primary School, which currently accommodates over 18,000 pupils in three daily shifts.
“This is one of the largest primary schools not just in Nigeria, but across West Africa,” Shettima said.
Located in Potiskum Local Government Area, Arikime Primary School has long struggled with overcrowding, with pupils learning in packed classrooms under harsh and often unfavourable conditions.
Neptune Prime noted that the situation has negatively impacted teaching effectiveness and pupil performance.
In order to tackle the crisis, the NEDC constructed the Arikime Mega School and handed it over to the Yobe State Government during the ceremony.
The facility includes four two-storey classroom blocks housing 24 classrooms, eight storage rooms, and 32 toilet units.
Additionally, two separate two-storey buildings have been built to serve as junior secondary school blocks, increasing the capacity to accommodate more students and facilitate smooth academic progression.
READ ALSO: NEDC inaugurates Ari Kime Mega School in Yobe to tackle overcrowding (Pictures)
Alhaji Isa Shettima emphasised that the new infrastructure will significantly improve the quality of education in the area by providing a conducive environment for learning and teaching.
He noted that addressing the issue of congestion is a critical step toward enhancing education outcomes.
“This is more than just bricks and mortar,” he added. “It is an investment in the future of our children, a response to a critical educational emergency, and a symbol of what collaboration between government agencies and development partners can achieve.”
The YSUBEB boss further commended the NEDC for its broader contributions to rebuilding communities across the North-East following years of devastation caused by insurgency.
He noted that Yobe State has particularly benefited from the commission’s strategic interventions in education, health, and infrastructure.
“The Northeast Development Commission has continued to demonstrate real commitment to rebuilding the region after years of devastation due to insurgency. We in Yobe State are particularly grateful for this gesture and we look forward to more collaborations in our collective quest to rebuild and reposition education for sustainable development,” he stated.
He explained that the Arikime Mega School project forms part of a larger vision to enhance access to quality education and support long-term recovery.
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