He made this known in Abuja at the 2017 Awards for Excellence and Good Governance of The Authority Newspapers.
According to him, “we have destroyed public schools, the system has collapsed. I went to a public school as a son a minister then in Enugu. The system then was such that accommodated both children of the rich and the poor, because the standard was the same.
“Today, if I were to have a child that will be in primary school, my driver may not be able to put his child in the same school with me, because he may not be able to afford the cost.” He lamented.
Dr Nwodo said the public schools which produced great political and military leaders, suddenly became an exclusive reserve for the poorest of the poor in the society, due to a continuous decline in its standard.
The former minister said quality education is a function of good teachers, good teaching methods, and recognition of talents, level playing field and responsible governance profile.
He said Nigeria was at a crossroad, saying several global organizations that have integrity in research have continued to rate Nigerian Universities very low among their counterparts in Africa.
Dr Nwodo, therefore, called on governments at all levels to retrace their steps and rebuild the public school system for the benefit of the poor masses who would never afford to get a quality education in private schools.
While urging the media practitioners not to relent in holding the government accountable, as a measure to nurture the nascent democracy and in the journey to delivering good governance, he said: “criticizing the government constructively and offering alternative suggestions are not inimical to the promotion of national cohesion.
“Those who represent us in government have no monopoly of knowledge. They are not all-knowing. They are not special breed who cannot be criticized,” he declared.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Simon Okeke called on well known very successful businessmen and women, especially those from over the Niger, to take a cue from Dr Ifeanyi Uba to set up more newspaper houses like Authority to help in educating and informing the people better than hitherto.
He used the occasion to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for recognizing June 12 as a Democracy Day instead of May 29, which date was a sad reminder to the same section of Nigeria of the first wave of the pogrom.
Among the recipients of the awards were: the Governors of Abia, Kano, and the Nasarawa States, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu; Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Umar Tanko Al-Makura. While former Governors of Ebonyi and Abia, David Nweze Umahi and Theodore Ahamefule Orji were also honoured.
Others were Senators Victor Umeh, Isa Hamma Misau and Honourable Chris Ifeanyi Emeka Azubogu among others.
and then