For Nigeria to be among the largest 15 economies in the world, there is need for synergy between governments and the private sector towards developing philosophies and articulating areas of need for the establishments and maintenance of world class educational system, that
will enable citizens achieve and surpass the goals of Vision 2020.
Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, made the assertion at the launching of a private educational initiative, Adetayo Adekunle Educational Support, held at the Anglican Methodist Grammar School in Oyo town, Oyo State.
The Minister, who was represented by the Provost, Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, Professor Kamoru Olayiwola Usman, said all
over the world, governments alone does not fund education, hence the
concerted efforts of good spirited individuals and organized private
bodies in complementing huge responsibilities of governments in
providing qualitative education.
While commending the initiator of the programme, Hon Adetayo
Adekunle, for his visionary initiative, the Minister urged other well
meaning individuals to emulate such patriotic zeal.
‘’ I charge you not to rest on your oars. You are demonstrating sense
of commitment and devotion to the progress and development of your
fatherland. We really appreciate you. The Federal Government is
receptive to brilliant ideas of this type hence our presence at this
august occasion’’.
In the same vein, Ajimobi, represented by the State
Commissioner for Education, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, who described
the initiative as a welcome development, said ‘this initiative is one
of the gains of our school governing board policy, where running of
schools is now fully participatory’’.
According to him, ‘’as a government we cannot do it alone. The Oyo
State Government fully endorses this initiative and also calls on
other individuals to emulate the noteworthy gesture of the young
parliamentarian’
Earlier, the initiator of the programme, Adekunle, who is a
a member representing Oyo Central Constituency in the Nigerian Youth Parliament at the National Assembly, Abuja, said the initiative was meant to complement government efforts in the education sector through
character education, provision of education materials and policy
formulation to encourage youths.
He warned that “unless concerted action is taken and education
receives the attention that it failed to get during the past fifteen
years, millions of children will continue to miss out, while the
transformative vision of the new Sustainable Development Agenda will
be jeopardized,”
He stated that the three tiers of governments must find ways to
mobilize new resources for education, while International partners
must ensure that aid is distributed to those most in need.
Adekunle, a Political Science graduate from the University of Ibadan,
asserted that ‘’policy makers should identify and prioritize skills to
be acquired by the end of each stage of schooling. Literacy policies
should link up with the needs of communities. Teacher training should
be improved to include gender-focused strategies. Teaching styles
should better reflect student needs and the diversity of classroom
contexts’’.
He further stressed that Governments, donors and civil society must
develop programmes and target funding to meet the needs of the most
disadvantaged so no child is left behind, adding that Governments
should close critical data gaps in order to be able to direct
resources to those most in need. Future education targets for
education must be specific, relevant and realistic.
‘’At current rates, only half of all children in low-income countries
are expected to complete lower secondary education by 2030. In many countries, even the core goal of achieving universal primary education will remain out of reach without concerted efforts’’.
A total of about 1,500 students, drawn from both
primary and secondary schools in the state, benefited from the distribution of educational materials, such as exercise books, desks and benches at the ceremony.
