By Mohammed Baba Busu
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said that for secondary schools in Nigeria be fully restored to world-class institutions of learning, alumni associations must work in synergy with governments at all levels to improve the infrastructure and quality of education in their alma maters.
A statement issued in Lafia on Wednesday said that the governor was represented by his Director-General, Strategic Communication, Mr Yakubu Lamai
He said Sule spoke at the Homecoming and World Convention of old Boys of Government Secondary School, Afikpo in Ebonyi State.
He said he delivered a paper titled: ” Taking Charge of the Future” on behalf of the governor at the ceremony”.
He said the governor restated his administration’s continuous commitment to improving the standard of education.
He quoted the governor as saying, “on the assumption of office as Governor on May 29, 2019, he engaged the Faculty of Social Sciences in the Federal University Lafia, to conduct a baseline survey,
“The survey was to reveal the level of dilapidation and real condition of primary and secondary schools in Nasarawa State, before deciding on a rescue plan to adopt for education.”
Lamai said that the governor affirmed that it was based on factual data derived from the statewide baseline survey that he allocated 26 percent of the state’s budget to the education sector.
“In the very first budget of his administration in 2019-2020 and subsequently increased budgetary funding for education from 26% to 31% in 2020/2021 and 36% in the 2022 budget,” he added
He said Sule reiterated his administration’s determination to prioritize the education sector considering its importance to societal development.
Earlier, The President General of Afikpo Old Boys, Ifeanyi Eleje, praised the commitment of Sule for going above and beyond the global benchmark of 20% recommended by the UN for expenditure in education.
Eleje revealed that the old Boys of the school spent over N800 million in the last ten years to rebuild 9 hostels and create a sick bay and an E-Library, among others.
“We also provided sorting facilities, to support the Ebonyi government to restore Government Secondary School, Afikpo to its rightful place of destiny,” he said.
