UNESCO hails Mbah’s smart schools initiative
The Enugu State Government has launched a new phase of its social intervention programme, Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), targeting more than 3,000 beneficiaries across rural communities in the state.

The initiative, driven by the State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), is designed to improve living conditions at the grassroots through targeted interventions in water supply, sanitation, and small-scale enterprise support, in line with Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to inclusive development.

Speaking at the launch on behalf of the governor, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, stated that the programme was a direct response to the prevailing economic realities impacting rural households, emphasising that the administration remained committed to cushioning hardship and expanding opportunities at the community level.

He explained that the intervention would provide solar-powered water facilities to boost access to clean water, construct hygienic sanitation systems, and deliver financial and material support to enhance livelihoods, adding that community participation would be central to identifying needs and ensuring effective project execution.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has commended the Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, for what it described as a transformative and forward-looking Smart Schools initiative, pledging strategic partnership with the state in teacher training, digital education development and cultural renaissance of the Igbo heritage.

The commendation was delivered by the Head of the UNESCO Office and Representative in Nigeria, Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Enugu, on Monday.

Abiaga, who led a high-level delegation, said the global body was impressed by the scale, speed, and vision underpinning the state’s education reforms.

He noted that UNESCO, which places education at the core of its mandate, found strong alignment between its global objectives and the Enugu State government’s aggressive investment in human capital development, particularly the establishment of over 260 Smart Green Schools across the state.