Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State on Monday unveiled the state’s ambitious Smart Green Schools project, describing it as “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.
In a statewide broadcast to mark the opening of the first batch of the schools, Governor Mbah said 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,” the governor declared. “Our sovereignty begins in the classroom. The destiny of African nations rests on what we nurture in the minds and hands of our children.”
A Vision Shaped by Experience
Mbah recalled his humble beginnings in the slums of Port Harcourt, where education became his “passport to a life of possibility.” He said his journey from hardship to earning a law degree in the United Kingdom convinced him that quality education should not remain an exclusive privilege.
“Does it have to be that hard?” he asked. “Can we make it easier for our young ones? I believe we can, and that is why we are building Smart Green Schools.”Inside the Smart Green Schools
The governor explained that each of the 260 Smart Green Schools is designed as a complete learning ecosystem.Smart: Every school features about 25 digitally connected classrooms, ICT centers, robotics and AI laboratories, e-libraries, and spaces for hands-on learning.
Green: Facilities are powered by renewable energy and include smart farms where pupils learn agriculture by planting, growing, and harvesting crops.
Inclusive: 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.
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,” he explained.
Beyond Education
The governor projected that the ripple effects of the initiative will extend far beyond Enugu. “Tomorrow is here is not only about Enugu. It is about Nigeria. It is about Africa,” 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.”He painted a vivid picture of 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.
Overcoming Challenges
Acknowledging delays in construction, 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,” he said. “We do not claim perfection, but we claim resolve. By all means, every school shall be open this term.”Call to Guardianship
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. He also emphasized the critical role of teachers, promising continuous professional development and support to ensure “child-centered and competency-based learning.”A Covenant With the Future
“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,” he said.The governor’s Tomorrow is Here education agenda, anchored on the Smart Green Schools, aims to devote 33 percent of the state budget to education, a level of investment rarely seen in Nigeria.With pupils now stepping into the first of these high-tech, eco-friendly classrooms, Enugu State is poised to become a model for how African governments can reimagine education as the foundation of sovereignty, innovation, and shared prosperity.
