ExpressDay
The Federal Ministry of Education has inducted the University of Nigeria Alumni Association in Abuja as a strategic partner to be included in meetings and consultations on issues concerning education policies in Nigeria.
This followed a visit to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, at the Ministry’s headquarters by an expanded Executive Committee of the Abuja branch of the UNAA, led by the branch president, Comrade Uche Obasi.
The Minister offered his appreciation to the UNAA for showing commitment and much compassion to the country by coming to find a way to partner with the Ministry to help the educational sector surmount its current challenges.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Arc. Sonny Echono, the Minister noted that education was a big investment and lamented inadequate budgetary allocation to the Ministry.
He, however, maintained that the government was highly focused on making available basic primary education free of charge for Nigerians.
He concurred with UNAA Abuja’s submissions that “private sector roles are needed to push our educational sector forward”, while enthusing that “more specialized private institutions that will address the challenges of obsolete curricula and equipment we have in our different institutions will emerge soon”.
Ochono further promised that the Minister would look into the request made by UNAA Abuja to organize an educational summit in collaboration with the Ministry.
Comrade Obasi explained that the proposed summit hopes to bring together key players to discuss and find solutions to problems bedevilling the country’s educational sector.
He assured the Ministry that UNAA Abuja Branch had capacity-building gurus, Information Technology experts and good teachers who train staff in different schools and universities in the country for optimal service delivery, even with the challenge of Covid-19 pandemic, such that the academic calendar is maintained and students graduate at the right time.
