Dear Sen Jarigbe Agom
It is with profound anticipation and excitement that I look forward to your town hall meeting tomorrow. My enthusiasm stems from a longstanding desire to engage you on critical national and local issues each time you come home. However, I often find myself deterred by the sheer size of the crowd, knowing that the immediate and pressing needs of many demand your undivided attention. Given this, and my ability to reach you through digital channels, I have chosen to share my thoughts ahead of time, hoping they may contribute to the framework of your crucial engagements.
Senator, your dedication to redefining legislative representation is truly commendable, and for that, I extend my heartfelt gratitude. Your tireless efforts are visibly impacting lives and setting a new standard for public service. As we look to the future, I respectfully urge your distinguished attention to the following vital issues:
- Addressing the Impending 2026 WAEC Examination Crisis: With WAEC’s transition to electronic examinations beginning next year, our district faces a monumental challenge. It is a sobering reality that nearly 90% of secondary schools in Northern Cross River lack functional computer laboratories, and even those with facilities often have no qualified teachers for practical instruction. This is not a trivial matter; it is an impending colossal tragedy that will condemn our children to failure if not addressed now. I strongly advocate for your urgent intervention by engaging established computer training centers across our rural settings to provide current SS2 students with the essential computer literacy skills required to confidently face these digital examinations.
- Strategic Partnership with NDDC for School Computerization: To build upon the first point, I respectfully request that you initiate discussions with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to significantly equip our schools with computer infrastructure. Securing functional computer laboratories for at least two schools per Local Government Area (LGA) within two years would remove twenty schools from this critical deficit, marking a substantial step forward in digital inclusion.
- Establishment of a NOUN Centre in Ogoja: A National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) study center in Ogoja remains a pressing need. Individuals like Peter Ogar Ikibunim Akoli Simon Odey , and I have tirelessly pursued this initiative since 2015, consistently being informed that it requires a decisive push from a leading political figure. We now earnestly implore your esteemed office to provide this crucial impetus; this endeavor is entirely feasible and vital for broadening access to higher education in our region.
- Youth Empowerment through Advanced Digital Skills Training: I propose a transformative initiative: the specialized training of 50 youths in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Data Analytics, and Cloud Computing, with five participants selected from each ward within Ogoja. The enduring, lifelong impact of such cutting-edge training on their future, and by extension, our community, cannot be overstated.
- Reactivating the Abakpa Njua Road Project: Lastly, I humbly urge you to revisit the construction of the Abakpa Njua road, which traverses through Basin Authority to Adagom and Njua. This critical road was explicitly captured in the 2018 budget of the Ministry of Water Resources, yet, regrettably, there has been no discernible progress to date. Your intervention could revive this vital infrastructure project.
Senator, I am deeply grateful for your consideration of these crucial issues. Your positive response and action on these matters would bring immense relief and happiness to me and countless constituents.
God bless you abundantly.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mike Udam
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