The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has canvassed for a strong partnership between the state government and public-spirited individuals and organizations for the promotion of socio-economic activities that will enhance the quality of education, create wealth, generate employment and boost revenue generation in the state.
Ahmed, who made the call in Ilorin, the state capital, at the commissioning of the revamped Kwara State Education Resource Centre, described basic education as the building block of educational development, hence the commitment of his administration to the pursuit of a dynamic education reform agenda, Every Child Counts.
Ahmed noted that the thrust of the administration’s education policy centres on human capital development through focus on basic education, skill development, entrepreneurship training and enhanced educational infrastructure.
He recalled that the state’s Ministry of Education was restructured to emphasise the new priority on human capital development, premised on creating a pool of employable skills and achieving attitudinal changes.
The governor added that the essence of this was to develop a crop of youths with the skills and aptitude to achieve economic independence as job providers instead of job seekers.
Ahmed said that the rehabilitation of the Education Resource Centre by the state government and the Universal Basic Education Commission marked a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to the provision of a conducive atmosphere for effective teaching and learning activities.
He said: “Indeed, this resource centre is yet another testimony for our shared prosperity through delivery of effective and quality science education at the basic education level.”
The state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Saka Onimago, said the Resource Centre was established to support teachers in the improvisation and production of instructional materials from locally available raw materials, produce a library of instructional materials to serve as references for institutions, researchers and carry out repairs and maintenance of science equipment.
Onimago said the centre’s instructional materials, distilled water and hexagonal desks and chairs have been patronised by international organisations, educational institutions and local governments within and outside the state.
The Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, Barrister Lanre Daibu, represented by the Commissioner in the commission, Barrister Sikiru Sholagberu, commended the state government for prompt payment of its UBE counterpart fund, which he said had enabled the Board to provide necessary infrastructure and learning equipment for schools in the state.