Scientists urged to be innovative to enhance devt

Tamale, Aug.30, GNA - Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Northern Regional Minister on Monday called on scientists to come out with innovations to enhance the country's growth in the agricultural and industrial sectors.

He said science education was crucial in any country's development because when the people were equipped with scientific knowledge it would be easier for them to improve on their standard of living.

Alhaji Boniface was speaking at the inauguration of a 1.5 billion-cedi Senior High School for the teaching of science in Tamale. The Department of Mosque Building and Donation (DMBDA), a Saudi charitable organisation is financing the project that comprises, 18 classrooms, two dormitories, an office, mosque, laboratory and a computer room for 10 computers and a printer.

The Regional Minister urged the people to support the school to help produce qualified personnel in the sciences for the rapid development of the region in particular and the country as a whole. He also called on them to maintain peace to attract investors to the region to assist in their socio-economic development efforts.

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Ruba Iam, Coordinator of DMBDA projects, said the school had been named after a Saudi Philantropist, Sheikh Al-Saadi whose good works and services were worth emulation.

He was optimistic that children in the region would take advantage of the school to impact positively on their lives.

Sheikh Ahmad Ibn Abdul-Rahman, a Saudi and the Guest Speaker urged the children to use the school to acquire knowledge, adding: "those who hold fast to knowledge, takes the lead in all sphere of human endeavours."

Sheikh Abdul-Rahman, called on Muslims to make contributions towards the education of their children, saying, "without knowledge they cannot lead in the development of their area".

Mr. Kudamo Richard, Assistant Director in charge of Human Resource Management and Development at the Regional Education Office, said only five out of the 565 teachers posted to the region last year, were science teachers and expressed the hope that the school would help produce qualified personnel to teach science in schools in the region. He called on communities near the school to help take good care of the materials for the school while the school authorities also make efforts to acquire documents the land to avoid encroachment.

Mr. Richard appealed to DMBDA to offer scholarships to brilliant but needy students to enable them pursuit their studies.

Alhaji Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed, a Ghanaian resident in Saudi Arabia and working with the DMBDA, said the organisation had built 210 mosques, 75 schools and sunk 451 wells throughout the country. Alhaji. Mohammed, commended DMBDA for assisting the children improve on their standard of education.