Frank Nweke, Former Minister of Information, has urged the Federal Government to focus more on reforming the education sector rather than placing attention on oil.
Nweke made the call in Abuja, at a Reunion of the Old Girls’ Association of the Federal Government Girls’ College Yola.
The former minister, who was represented by Michael Magaji, the National President, Federal Government College, Jos Old Students’ Association, said that with quality teaching, Nigerians would be able be to generate wealth.
He said: “We must look at educational reform and position it for the 21st Century.
“Education is not just in the content, but in delivery.
“If you want to know how resourceful a country is, you should first
count its highly effective teachers and how involved the parents are.”
According to him, 13.5m Nigerian children are currently out of school, a development that “is a social and moral gap and a threat to the society’’.
Nweke further stated that the role of the association is to help set a development agenda for young upcoming students.
He said: “This re-union is aimed at creating value in the education sector. It is also aimed at giving back to the school (where we studied).
“The message today is concerned about how the association would help mentor young students in school and also train the teachers.
“’It is the teachers, who make us who we are (today).”
Also speaking, Dr. Antonia Obike, a representative of the old girls in the Diaspora said that graduands of the school were willing to do the best they could to ensure the development of the education sector in Nigeria.
Obike said that the old girls in Diaspora were prepared to return home to give back to the country what it had given to them in the spirit of corporate social responsibility.
Also speaking, Christy Bature, a representative of the Class of 1984, said that the association and reunion was all about supporting one another.
The Principal, Federal Government Girls’ College Yola, Hajia Zulaika Usman Momodu, expressed her gratitude for what the association was doing.
Momodu urged suggested that the next reunion of the school be held in the college to create a situation where students would have the opportunity to meet former students of the school for mentoring and encouragement.
According to her, doing so will encourage younger Nigerians to aim higher and contribute their quota to nation-building.
She said: “I have seen their co-operation and really want to encourage them to continue.
“This year alone, they put fans in all the hostels and so many other infrastructures that they have been erected in the school.”
The high point of the event was the election and swearing in of the New Exco Members where Aishatu Mohammed emerged as the new president.
Former minister urges FG to focus more on education reforms
