Emeka Ibemere
For his
effort in making sure of the UNESCO project that the Education for All (EFA)
agenda would be achieved from 2000-2014, Nigerian Minister for Education, Mallam
Ibrahim Shekarau has endeared the attention of a social –political group in
Abuja.
In the year 2000, Nigeria, a member of states
among the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation,
UNESCO, was part of the country reminded by UNESCO that the Education for All
(EFA) agenda had to be re-ignited with a new date set for its attainment in
providing education for every child.
The
Government of Nigeria went into action and by the renewed target of 2015, actualized the Alm
The
ingenuity of the Minister to bring to fore all stakeholders in the multifaceted
nature of the EFA programme to achieve success made the group to call Nigerians
to support Minister for Education
The Group
praised the Minister’s team who took several reform initiatives and placed
everything necessary for the acclimatisation of the programme that have been put
in place and said Mallam Shekarau deserved the commendations of Nigerians.
According to
Anike Charles, the Group’s national President, Almajiri model education
nationwide is a programme targeted at delivering mass education both at the
formal and non –formal sector, which he urged the Northern states to embrace
with two hands.
Anike
further said the policy was to capture the recognition of early child care
development and education (ECCDE) as the most fundamental investment in basic
education.
“The effort of Mallam Shekarau in aggressively
addressing the issue of Almajiri culture in the north through the special
intervention of the Federal Government in the establishment of Almajiri schools
nationwide, won the heart of our organisation. He deserved the commendation of
every Nigerian. For us he is one of the best Ministers in this present
administration”, Anike stated.
“Its part of this administration’s strides and
milestones we are talking about and it could not have been accomplished without
the encouragement and support of the Honourable Minister for Education and many
others”.
There are
reports that the Mr. Kalu Kalu-Obasi, National Coordinator, EFA has commended
the minister in his report on Nigerian EFA Review
Report
2000-2014.
“Our genuine
appreciation goes particularly to the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr.
Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala,
who gave us the necessary encouragement, inspiration and support for the
successful production of this report. We
would like to warmly thank the Director, Basic and Secondary Education
Department, Barr. D. C. Uwaezuoke and the Deputy Director, Basic Education
Division, Mrs. O. A. Ariba, for their special assistance, guidance and support”,
Kalu-Obasi wrote.
Eastern
Union further harped on the Minister’s success in the transformation agenda of
the administration and stated that he is one of the Icons in the rebuilding of
the Nigerian educational system.
“We have
taking our stock at the achievements recorded in Nigeria’s education sector
under the Transformation Agenda, and one man has strike our attention”, Anike
continued.
“Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, the Honourable
Minister of Education, is making admirable contributions to the development of
education in Nigeria.
Mallam
Ibrahim Shekarau’s reputation as an achiever in the education sector started
long time ago. Before being the Minister of Education, he was elected governor
of Kano State in 2003 and, prior to that, was a former class room Teacher who
rose to the pinnacle of his career and became one of the most credible hands in
Kano because of his discipline and hard work”.
Anike
explained that his organisation wasn’t surprise when Shekarau was appointed
Minister of Education because they were convinced that he was going to
performed because of his academic and educational background.
“We accepted his position as Minister of
Education and know that he was going to be an added advantage to the
Transformation team. Check his wide experience in education and administration,
and you will agree with me that President Jonathan made good decision and what
we are witnessing now in the education sector is not a surprise”.
It was
gathered that the commissioning an Almajiri School in Northern Nigeria by
President Goodluck Jonathan, was part of Shekarau’s effort in taking youths
away from violence.
Before his
appointment, Nigeria’s education sector went into most of its trying times and
characterised by teachers, lecturers and non academic staff of universities and
polytechnics on monthly basis. Nigerian education sector witnessed poor
infrastructure and declining standards.
The sector
also witnessed poor teaching tools and now there seems to be relative peace in
the education sector as Academic Staff Union of Universities have buried their
yearly strike options. He made so many efforts and increased awareness in an
attempt to rectify the problems that had become a major cause of many social
challenges.
Anike
quipped that Shekarau has doubled his efforts in Nigeria’s early childhood care
and development which was characterised by the poor state of the
infrastructure, equipment, facilities and learning resources. According to the
Group, there are essential learning resources that were lacking in most facilities
before now.
“Under
Shekarau, we have seen considerable changes in the sector. With him Federal
Government has improved financial allocation to the sector, and there are key
strides recorded from the sector”, Anike added.
“Four novel
programmes undertaken by the Minister that are in fulfilment of President
Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda are: The Almajiri Education; Girl-Child
education; Boy-Child education; and Library projects in Unity Schools and
through the transformation agenda programme of matching grant intervention
funds to states, about 10,177 classrooms have been constructed”.
According to
Anike, Shekarau’s initiative to give sound education to the poor children in
the north has being one of his greatest achievements.
“The initiation of the Almajiri education
programme is not like the nomadic education, we saw some years ago which didn’t
result to any significance. But this will give them the opportunity to acquire
skills that would prepare them for the demands of the modern environment they
were entering”, Anike said.
“Out of a
total of 124 Almajiri schools mapped out for construction, 85 have been
completed and some are already in use. The remaining 39 Almajiri schools under
construction have reached between 80 per cent and 90 per cent completion
rates”. According to Eastern Union President, the Almajiri Education textbooks
produced by the former Education Trust Fund (ETF), has been adapted and the
production of the Textbooks is on-going; he said the Teachers’ Guides for
Almajiri Education Textbooks have been developed and the process of publishing
the texts has also commenced.
“I was able
to visit some of these schools, the completed schools have been furnished with
the Mats; Teachers’ Tables and Chairs; TV Sets; Pupils’ Tables; Science Kits;
Filing Cabinets; Generators; Shelves; 285 Desktop Computers & Accessories;
Workshops, Laboratory and Dining Hall Tables; Library Tables; Wall Clocks; and
Refrigerators”. He said. It’s based on these that we commend Shekarau for his
visionary leadership in the ministry of education.
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