Posted by By Wole Mosadomi on
FORMER military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) has called on the people of Niger state not to leave the funding of Education entirely in the hands of the state government.
MINNA - FORMER military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) has called on the people of Niger state not to leave the funding of Education entirely in the hands of the state government.
Rather, he said, the funding of Education should be a joint effort of government and the people.
In his address titled, "A Word of Encouragement" at the combined second and third Annual General Meetings of Minna Emirate Education Foundation over the weekend, however, called on the government not to fail in its responsibility in providing enabling environment for quality education in the state.
"The struggle to revamp the system of education in the state has already begun and the foundation has proved beyond reasonable doubt that it means business and should therefore, be encouraged and supported to do more," Gen. Babangida remarked.
The former president who was apparently wooing the state government for its support towards revamping Education in Minna and other emirates with similar programme said, "I would like to add my voice of appeal to call on the Niger state government to please take necessary and urgent steps to redeem its pledge to the foundation."
The state government had made a pledge of 25m to the foundation about two years ago when the foundation was officially launched which is yet to be redeemed.
Chairman of the foundation, Alhaji Tanko Kuta in his address at the foundation said a total of 265 indigenes of Minna Emirate were admitted for the pre- degree programme of the Federal University of Technology, (FUT) Minna through the special efforts of the foundation.
According to him, the foundation has also succeeded in enlisting about 29 students for the state college of Remedial studies in Gulu in the year 2003/2004, 33 for the year 2004/2005 while another set of 40 was sponsored by the foundation for the pre- NCE College of Education remedial studies and direct NCE programmes respectively at the same institution. The sum of N760,000 was spent on the various programmes.
Alhaji Tanko Kuta said in order to further promote education in the emirate, the scholarship award committee has recommended 82 candidates to benefit from the foundation's scholarship scheme this year which will cost over N1.7m.
He said the foundation will remain on its vision and mission which is to "improve the outlook and quality of life of our youth, through the provision of qualitative and functional education."