An educationist, JCI Adekunle Samson, said for Nigeria to attain it’s full potential and development, it must invest more in the education sector, saying the free education policy of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo as premier of the Western region, produced great minds that has contributed positively to the growth of the country.
He disclosed this at the launch of ‘E go better Academic Support and Empowerment Project’ of the Barods Empowerment Foundation in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Friday.
Adekunle, who spoke on the theme, ‘The power of Education in Nation-Building’, urged the federal government to revamp the curriculum to match the demands of the 21st century.
He explained that China and India have used education-driven policies to become global economic giants, “transforming from a largely agrarian economy to a technological superpower, through education, research and skill development”.
“Education is not an expense. It is an investment. It is not just a privilege, it is a right. It is not just a policy, it is a moral duty.
“Obafemi Awolowo, a man ahead of his time, pioneered free primary education in Western Nigeria. That single decision produced some of the greatest minds we celebrated in the country today,” he said.
He, therefore, appealed to the federal government to educate, empower and elevate Nigerians and Nigeria to its rightful place on the global stage.
The founder and Chairman of the Foundation, Mr. Babatunde Denton, announced the payment of the West African Examination Council ( WAEC) fees of over 65 students selected across the secondary schools in the State.
He said the payment of WAEC fees was to give hope to some less privileged students who can’t afford to pay, while assuring that the foundation would extend the payment to 100 students in the next academic calendar.
Denton, however, called on the Federal government, non-governmental organisations, and wealthy individuals to continue to invest in and support the education system of the country.
The co-founder of the Foundation, Ali Banjo, who spoke through Zoom, charged the beneficiaries to ensure their success in the examination, pledging that the Foundation would also pay their Joint and Matriculation Examination Board (JAMB) exams.
Gbenga Longe, an educationist, said investing in education is non-negotiable, stressing that Nigeria must take its education system serious.
He said education is a catalyst for national development, calling on governments at all levels to increase funding of the sector.
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