Keeping to his promise that Enugu Smart Green Schools will resume on September 22,2025, Enugu state Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, Monday morning, inaugurated the 260 Smart Green schools in the state for commencement of the 2025/2026 academic section.
The inauguration is an official transition from existing primary and junior secondary schools to Smart Green Schools,which is described as Governor Peter Mbah’s signature initiative in the South East state.
In a statewide broadcast to mark the opening of the first batch of the schools,, Governor Mbah said the Smart Green school initiative is“the most personal and transformative” initiative of his administration and a bold step towards preparing Enugu’s children for a future of innovation, self-reliance, and global competitiveness.. He added 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..
Africa today is the youngest continent in the world, with over 60 percent of its people under 25. 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,” he said.
Pix: Enugu Smart Green school
The governor who allocated 33,% of the Enugu state’s annual budget to education, attributed his Smart Green school initiative to his childhood experience, recalling his journey from hardship to earning a law degree in the United Kingdom, which he said, convinced him that quality education should not remain an exclusive privilege.
“Does it have to be that hard? Can we make it easier for our young ones? I believe we can, and that is why we are building Smart Green Schools,” he said.
Giving a run down of the facilities in Smart Green school,, governor Mbah explained that each of the 260 Smart Green Schools is designed as a complete learning ecosystem.It has 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 classroom activities, Governor Mbah said the new model replaces rote memorization with creativity and problem-solving. “The classroom is a creativity hub. Theory meets practice and knowledge is translated into tangible skills.”
On the gains of Smart Green school , Governor Mbah said the mantra ,“Tomorrow is here is not only about Enugu. It is about Nigeria. It is about Africa. A generation raised in schools of innovation will build an economy of innovation. A generation raised in classrooms of fairness will create a politics of justice.”
He explained the expectations, the future: graduates working remotely for clients in London or Lagos without leaving Enugu, young entrepreneurs launching start-ups from local cafés, and parents welcoming their children home to thriving communities instead of sending them abroad in search of opportunity.
On the challenges of completing some of the Smart Green school projects, Governor 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 be open this term,” he said.
Stressing the importance of securing the facilities in the Smart Green schools, Governor Mbah urged 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.
Recognising the roles of teachers and the importance of teachers’ development,, the governor promised continuous professional development and support to ensure “child-centered and competency-based learning.”
To the public he said, ” 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.”
With the Governor ‘s statewide broadcast and inauguration of Enugu Smart Green Schools, the schools have officially resumed for academic activities and critics have bowed their heads in shame.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama