PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, has pledged to increase the national annual budget to the education sector from seven cents to 20 per cent, if elected as the president on February 16.
This, he said, would be above the 15 per cent allocation recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN).
Atiku, who spoke at the Silverbird ‘Man of the Event’ held in Lagos, on Sunday, also said his first task, if elected, would be to permanently end the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), alongside naming members of his cabinet.
“I am aghast that, as I speak, our students across the nation are not being educated due to the ASUU strike that is about an argument over N60 billion.
“If I get the job I am seeking, my first task on day one, along with naming my cabinet, will be to end this disgraceful strike and get our students back to their studies.
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“I will also triple the amount the Nigerian government spends on education from seven per cent of its budget today, not just to the 15 per cent recommended by UNESCO, but to 20 per cent,” he said.
The PDP presidential candidate said he recognised the value education can bring to the individual and the country, adding that he would want every Nigerian child to have the opportunities he had.
“As part of my desire to give back to the community which raised me, I have endowed nursery, primary and secondary schools, as well as the American University of Nigeria, in my hometown of Yola,” he said.
Speaking on the importance of women, he said, as president, he would expand the concept if his microfinance bank in Adamawa State and roll it out nationally to elevate millions of families from poverty.
Declaring that he is the biggest employer of labour in the state, he said he went into business immediately after leaving the Nigeria Customs Service, adding that he had created over 50,000 direct jobs and a further 250,000 indirectly.
“If I get the job (as the president), I will apply what I have learnt in my business life to create millions of jobs across our great nation. I trust it is not too immodest to observe that perhaps my skills and experience have never been more needed.
“Over the last four years the number of unemployed Nigerians has rocketed from seven million to over 21 million, most of whom are our youths in the most productive period of their lives and many of whom have studied hard but cannot find a job.
“Did you know that, based on the current rate of growth in unemployment, if something is not done 62 per cent of our people will be unemployed by 2023? That is not just frightening, it is a time bomb,” he said.
The PDP presidential candidate however assured that he would take the country and Nigerians out of the pains of unemployment by creating a conducive environment that would enhance job creation.
“If I am selected for what undoubtedly will be my toughest-ever appointment, I have clear plans on how I will create the best environment Nigerian has ever seen for creating jobs.
“To take just one example, I will establish a national apprenticeship scheme to give 1 million of our young people vocational training with certification, which is so lacking in Nigeria today.
“I have fortunately reached a stage in my life where I do not need to work anymore, but I am grateful to Nigeria for giving me such a rewarding life on many levels.
“One of my favourite actors is Jack Lemmon who was a master of his art. I was always taken by his expression which he coined when he was at the height of his success, “to take the elevator back down” and which led him to set up acting schools for deprived kids in America.
“It is a phrase that sums up my attitude to life. Which brings me back to how did Jack Lemmon and every other successful person get to the top of the elevator in the first place?
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“Some say it is ambition. Others say it is talent. For me, I think it is a combination of both. For talent without ambition is a waste, yet ambition without talent is worthless.
“Yet there is one more ingredient that to me is crucial and which I want to impress on all those at home who believe they have the talent and ambition to succeed and that ingredient is pure, unadulterated hard work.
“They say that to be good at anything whether it is to play the violin or to become a great footballer takes a minimum of 10,000 hours of hard graft. That represents typically three-five years of commitment and practice. So, the last ingredient in my book of success is perseverance and determination.
“Who can forget the ‘Miracle of Dammam’, when Nigeria became the first team to come back from four goals down to win a FIFA World Cup match – all the more extraordinary for the fact we only started scoring in the last 30 minutes of the game!
“Please put your hands up if you remember that match? Miracles happen in the Bible and the Qur’an and miracles can happen in Nigeria for individuals and our country.
“So, to everyone at home who wants to be on this stage in 2024 please remember that if you apply yourself and really, really want to achieve something then your future success is in your own hands,” he said.
Speaking on his chances at the election, Atiku said, “If there is a better candidate for the post than me, then so be it. I can only hope the recruitment process is fair.
“However, I can say for the record I have done much more than 10,000 hours of practice to do the job well and promise that if I get the job, I will apply every ounce of my determination and perseverance to repay the confidence in hiring me and to make a great success for my employer, the Nigerian people.”
Atikulation 2019
Nonsense
Buban goro sai magogin karfe. NIGERIA SAI ATIKU
In God and Atiku I trust
When are you going to stop deceiving Nigerian
Promises upon promises. O ga o
that is the only way forward not this government that don’t care about the future of our youths
Yes atiku the looter, will raise corruption development for our country. Atiku the ,419
Well OK
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We knew you can
Nothing is impossible with Atiku ….Professional Politician! !!!!!
This guy just too desperate that he’s promising anything. Shows you can’t be trusted man.
Mall am Atiku is deceiving himself, and his gangsterism ! Beware of money ? launderers! Beware of fake promises politicians! Beware of money bag ? politicians! Beware of corrupt politicians! They are too dangerous for the economy/ handling affairs of the Nation . ???
Desperation for power has blinded Atiku promising gold even if deep down inside him he is only being deceitful
Hahaha during OBJ/Atiku govt, we were home for 6 months twice due to ASUU strike
1999 -→ 5 months
2001 -→ 3 months
2002 -→ 2 weeks
2003 -→ 6 months → (ended in 2004)
2005 -→ 3 days
2006 -→ 1 week
2007 -→ 3 months
That’s the OBJ/ATIKU ASUU strike!
Was him the seated president