Enugu State on Monday entered a new chapter in its history as Governor Peter Mbah formally launched the transition from conventional primary and junior secondary schools to Smart Green Schools – his administration’s flagship educational initiative.
In a statewide broadcast, Governor Mbah described the transformation as a deliberate move away from outdated school structures and rote learning towards world-class infrastructure, digital literacy, and experiential education.
He stressed that the goal was to equip Enugu children with the knowledge and skills required to thrive in the global economy.
“We are no longer a state waiting to be saved – we are a state shaping the future on our own terms,” he said.
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A Vision for Africa’s Future
The governor contextualised the project within Africa’s youthful demographics, noting that by 2050 one in three young people worldwide will be African.
“This is not just a statistic; it is a summons. The destiny of African nations rests on what we nurture in the minds and hearts of our children,” he declared.
Mbah said Enugu’s slogan, “Tomorrow is here”, is not merely political branding but “a covenant with the future”.
He argued that the state’s sovereignty, like that of Africa, would depend on the strength of its human capital, cultivated through critical thinking, innovation, and integrity.
The Smart Green School Model
According to the governor, the 260 Smart Green Schools represent the most personal and transformative project of his leadership.
Each school is designed as a self-sufficient learning ecosystem featuring 25 digitally connected classrooms, ICT centres, robotics and AI laboratories, e-libraries and experiential learning spaces. Renewable energy supply and smart farms for practical agricultural training, Free uniforms, books, meals, and tablets for all pupils; on-site clinics, water systems, and community halls; teacher housing to ensure commitment and continuity.
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“Smart means integrating technology, problem-solving and creativity into every subject. Green means sustainability, from energy use to agriculture. And ‘inclusive’ means no child is left behind,” Mbah explained.
Education as a Right
Reflecting on his own upbringing in Port Harcourt’s slums, the governor said education had been his “passport to a life of possibility”.
He insisted that no Enugu child should face barriers to opportunity due to economic background, adding that education must be treated as a public right.
“Smart Green Schools are not just classrooms but an investment in the soul of our people,” he said. “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.”
Implementation and Challenges
Mbah acknowledged delays in the simultaneous construction of 260 schools but assured residents that all would open this term.
“While some schools open today, others will follow in the coming weeks. We do not claim perfection, but we claim resolve. Every school shall be ready without disrupting the academic calendar,” he said.
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Community Role and Teacher Support
The governor called on communities to safeguard the schools and support teachers, whom he described as “the custodians and guardians of our future”.
He said his administration had invested heavily in continuous professional development, mentorship, and resources to promote child-centred, competency-based education.
With 33 per cent of Enugu’s annual budget allocated to education, Mbah maintained that the investment was justified:
“The wealth of human potential is the truest capital of our society,” he affirmed.
