Massive investment in education, health will curb insecurity — Mimiko

The former two-term governor of Ondo, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has said that massive investment in the education and health sectors of Nigeria has been advocated as the major panacea to tackling poverty and human development.

He made the disclosure on Friday as Guest Speaker at the maiden convocation ceremony of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) Osara.

He added that aside investment in education and health, decentralization of the Nigerian Police should be the way out of insecurity.

The theme of the Maiden convocation for Confluence University of Science and Technology Osara is “ILL Health and Illiteracy, Siblings Alliance Against Development”.

He pointed out that Nigeria remains the worst place to give birth, lamented the nations life expectancy ratio, bemoaned the out of pocket expenditures on health that stands at 76% in 2022.

Dr. Mimiko disagreed with the timing and methods used in the subsidy removal  leading to socio economic challenges of inflation, however described the introduction of NELFUND as laudable, urged the government to come out strong and tackle other issues generating issues in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

The former Ondo State Governor attributed inadequate funding to health and education, noted that it has led to amongst others, poor human capital development, resulting in less skilled and less healthy workforce, reduce economic  productivity and competitiveness.

Mimiko pointed out that the 162nd position for out of  school children amongst 186 countries listed in adult literacy as unacceptable, described investment in education and health as factors for rapid growth and development.

He also bemoaned a situation in which only 49 percent and 55 percent of children in school achieve basic proficiency in literacy and numeracy respectively.

He expressed worry that the education budget of the country does not reflect that of a nation that appreciates the critical role of education in sustainable economic development.

Dr. Mimiko lamented that Nigeria has 18.1 million Nigerian that are out of school children, a population that is more than that of many countries in the world, insisting that a healthy individual, makes a wealthy nation called for improved budgetary provision for education and health.

Dr. Mimiko described Nigeria as undoubtedly under developed country, described human capital in the area of education and health as catalyst of social development.

He explained that a deliberate health and education Policy that encourages effective budgeting by National and Sub National Government is another avenue towards liberating people from, ignorance and poverty.

The Guest speaker lamented the working conditions of University lecturers and those in the academic sector, urged for better funding that would motivate lecturers and Teachers.

He expressed worries of stunting, a deficiency that impaires growth and development caused by poor nutrition, repeated infections and inadequate psychosocial stimulation, said children are defined by better nutrition between ages 1-5 years, advocated the school feeding program with better improvement.

In his remarks, the Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Convocation Lecture,
lauded the establishment of the Confluence University of Science and Technology Osara said the graduating student of the institution have proven that the end has justified the means.

In his welcome remarks, Engr. Prof. Abdulrahman Asipita Salawu, Vice Chancellor, Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, in a welcome address, said the lecture is an intellectual engagement that marks another milestone in for the University’s history.

The Vice Chancellor added that the theme of the lecture, “Ill-Health and Illiteracy, Siblings’ Alliance against Development,” addresses two interwoven social burdens that continues to impede progress in Nigeria and many developing countries towards a renewed passion and strategy to address the bedeviling twin.