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Calls for adequate identification of brilliant students with academic directions
By David Odama
Chairman of the just concluded National Educational Award Programme, Engineer Anselm Ijebor has declared that no government in any nation of the world could drive its education sector alone without partnering with critical stakeholders in the field.
Ijebor in an interview with Journalists in Abuja Tuesday, said for the nation to make a remarkable break through educationally, critical stakeholders especially those knowledgeable in the sector be allowed the opportunity to drive the sector rather than the involvement of those he described as ‘mediocres’ to decide the direction of the nation’s educational future.
“The country Nigeria has failed to make a remarkable break through in our educational sector because those knowledgeable enough to propel the sector were not allowed to bring their expertise to bear in advancing our nation education”.
“There was urgent need to mobilize citizens, critical stakeholders, Organized private sector to drive and accelerate academic excellence and contribute to Nigeria’s educational development if we must get it right”, Ijebor declared.
“Personally speaking while the tertiary education is important I feel more can be achieved if the students and teachers in primary and secondary schools are properly provided for.From inception of the civil leadership in the country in 1999, the country has suffered more than 10 strikes actions which consequently affects the duration of the school life and education of students in Nigeria”Engr Ijebor lamented.
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. The importance of education to a nation can not be over emphasized, in most parts of the world education is regarded as a fundamental human right. Education is one of the basic criteria to measure the growth and development of any nation.
Sadly the level, quality and standard of education in Nigeria has witnessed a geometric drop in the past two decades and this unfortunate trend has made Nigeria the leading country of origin of students from Africa migrating to other parts of the world in search of quality education.
According to Ijebor, an improvement has been made in the last one year of this administration because the team players in the sector have brought in ovations into the sector.
“Although, one year after, progress have been made in the education sector, but a lot are still required to make their impacts real. However, the Tinubu government commitment to ending out-of-school children syndrome and providing enablement are key to drive the inclusive education template.
“The Students Loan scheme is a bold step by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that every eligible child gets quality higher education in Nigeria no matter the circumstances of their birth. It’s launch is not only historic but revolutionary. Children who would have been deprived of access of quality tertiary education will surely be availed such opportunities under the Students Loan scheme”, he said.
In order to drive the education sector effectively, Engineer Ijebor called on President Tinubu to delegate his mandate in the sector to those capable, determined and have the required skills to drive the sector with the precision of a pilot.
He explained further that NEAP set up to identify brilliant students with high academic achievements at the Senior Secondary School Examination level for immediate scholarships was not only a right step in the right direction, but a move that is aimed at mobilizing citizens and the organized private sector to celebrate academic excellence and contribute to Nigeria’s educational development.
