Lagos, Nigeria – October 9, 2025
The visionary education policy of Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, received resounding national acclaim today as Professor Bernadette Okoli, the state’s Honourable Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication, detailed the groundbreaking “Smart Schools” project, describing it as the core of a grand strategy to build a $30 billion economy.
Professor Okoli, who represented His Excellency at the Independent Newspaper’s event commemorating 70 years of Universal Primary Education in Nigeria at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, spoke to journalists on the innovative governor’s transformative contributions to education.
During the interview with DASCENARIO , Professor Okoli moved beyond mere rhetoric, providing a compelling narrative of a state deliberately engineering its future through human capital development.
“His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, did not come to govern with a small vision,” she stated.
“When he promised to grow our economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, many saw politics. But we in the administration saw a blueprint. And at the very heart of that blueprint is the child in a classroom in Udi, in Awgu, in Nsukka. We are not merely building schools; we are architecting the future workforce, the innovators, and the problem-solvers who will drive that economy.”
She explained that the 260 Smart Schools, one in each electoral ward, represent a fundamental departure from traditional education models.
“I have been to these schools. What we have done is create epicenters of 21st-century learning. In these schools, you will find children engaging with robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital tools not as a rare privilege, but as the very basis of their learning. We have moved decisively away from a curriculum of rote memorization to one that prioritizes STEM, critical thinking, and digital literacy from the most formative years.”
Professor Okoli emphasized the holistic nature of the model. “This is not just about technology. It is about building a complete child. That is why each Smart School has a health centre, a sports facility, and even a farm. We are nurturing minds, bodies, and spirits. For us, poverty eradication begins in the classroom. By providing this world-class education for free and making it compulsory, we are levelling the playing field and giving every child in Enugu, regardless of their background, a fighting chance in the global economy.”
Connecting education to the broader governance vision, the Commissioner outlined a synergistic approach.
“You cannot ask a child to code on an empty stomach or in an environment of fear. The Smart Schools are the crown jewel, but they are supported by the pillars of His Excellency’s governance. The 9th Mile 24/7 Water Scheme ensures our children have access to clean water. The massive investment in security with over 100 smart patrol vehicles ensures a safe environment for learning. The aggressive road construction connects our communities and economies, while the 260 Type-2 Primary Health Care Centers under construction ensure a healthy learner. It is all one, integrated plan.”
In her concluding remarks, she emphasized the special place occupied by Education in the Enugu State Government’s heart.
”The Enugu Renaissance is here, and it is being built, one smart child at a time.”
The Enugu Renaissance: How Governor Peter Mbah is Engineering a Modern Economic Powerhouse Through Innovation and Political Will
When Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah assumed office on May 29, 2023, he presented the people of Enugu State with a bold and, to some, audacious manifesto. He promised to grow the state’s economy exponentially from a paltry $4.4 billion to a staggering $30 billion, eradicate poverty, and position Enugu as the premier destination for investment and living in Nigeria.
To many, this was political rhetoric. Today, barely two years into his administration, a tangible wave of transformation is sweeping across the Coal City State, signaling that Governor Mbah is not just a man of words, but a relentless executor, with his revolutionary “Smart Schools” initiative standing as the cornerstone of his visionary blueprint.
The Educational Revolution: A Nation’s Gaze Fixed on the Smart School Model
Without a doubt, the most groundbreaking and nationally acclaimed achievement of the Mbah administration lies in the education sector. Fulfilling a key campaign promise, his government has conceptualized, constructed, and commenced operations in 260 “Smart Schools” – one in each of the state’s 260 electoral wards. This is not merely a quantitative increase in classrooms; it is a qualitative leap into the future of learning.
These flagship institutions are designed to be epicenters of 21st-century education. Each school is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that would be the envy of many private universities: interactive digital whiteboards, tablets for pupils, robotics and artificial intelligence labs, internet connectivity, modern science laboratories, and creative arts studios. The curriculum is deliberately tailored to move away from rote learning, focusing instead on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), critical thinking, and digital literacy from the earliest stages.
Furthermore, these schools provide holistic development through features like a school-based health center, a sports and recreation area, and a farm to instill practical agricultural skills.
By making this world-class education free and compulsory at the basic level, Governor Mbah is not just building schools; he is systematically engineering a new generation of digitally fluent, innovative problem-solvers, laying a human capital foundation that will fuel his $30 billion economy dream.
Beyond the Classroom: A Multi-Sectoral Surge in Development
The transformative energy emanating from the education sector is being replicated across the entire spectrum of the state’s economy and infrastructure, creating a synergistic push towards modernization.
Water & Public Utilities: In a move that ended decades of water scarcity in the state capital, Governor Mbah commissioned the 9th Mile 24/7 Water Scheme. This landmark project now produces 70 million liters of water daily, providing potable water to most households in Enugu Urban, a feat once considered impossible.
Security & Law Enforcement: Understanding that economic growth is impossible without security, the administration has made monumental investments in this sector. This includes the procurement and deployment of over 100 “Smart” patrol vehicles, fitted with state-of-the-art communication and tracking technology, the establishment of the Distress Response Squad, and the construction of modern, purpose-built police stations across the state. This data-driven approach has led to a significant drop in crime rates.
Infrastructure & Transport: Enugu is currently a massive construction site. The government is aggressively executing numerous road projects, including the landmark reconstruction of the Opi–Nsukka dual carriageway and countless urban and rural road networks, boosting connectivity and commerce. The revitalization of the Enugu Metro transport system and the ongoing efforts to make the Akanu Ibiam International Airport a regional hub are also key priorities.
Economic Diversification & Investment: The governor is aggressively de-risking the business environment to attract both foreign and local investment. The Enugu State Investment Development Authority has been revitalized as a one-stop shop for investors. Key focus areas include leveraging the state’s vast solid mineral resources, supporting agribusiness, and developing special economic zones.
Health Sector: The administration is embarking on the construction and rehabilitation of 260 Type-2 Primary Health Care Centers across the wards, mirroring the Smart Schools project. This is complemented by the significant upgrade of general hospitals and the recruitment of medical personnel to bring quality healthcare closer to the people.
The Verdict: A Promise Being Kept
While the journey to a $30 billion economy is a marathon, the first legs have been run with impressive speed and determination. Governor Peter Mbah is governing with a sense of urgency and a clear-eyed vision that blends grand ambition with practical, people-centric projects.
The Smart Schools stand as a powerful symbol of this new Enugu—a state that is no longer content with its past glory but is aggressively investing in its future, building from the ground up with its children as the ultimate asset.
The narrative in Enugu is swiftly changing from one of potential to one of palpable, visible, and intelligent progress.
– ALFRED ABIODUN
