Olean care Aid Foundation (OCAF), in partnership with Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) and others, have restated their commitment towards investing in education to reduce poverty in Nigeria.
The group made the commitment during an end of year party to celebrate pupils and teachers, with exceptional performance in LEA primary school Wuse Zone 3 Abuja.
According to Mrs Oge Ezenyimulu-Nwagu, Founder of OCAF, education is a total escape from poverty and if we fail to invest in education, Nigeria will continue to spend on poverty which will subsequently breed other socio-economic vices such as armed robbery and hoodlums.
She also stated that the development of the knowledge sector of economy would go a long way in providing the necessary drivers for economic growth and development.
“We see the need to invest more in education because it will be crucial in boosting productivity, increasing competition and innovation, creating employment, and revitalising the economy.
“We believe that quality education as the 4th sustainable goal will help people break out of poverty which depends on a strong knowledge sector.
“For any country to foster genuine economic growth and development, its educational system must be considered as the foundation of any meaningful development strategies,” she said.
Ezenyimulu-Nwagu also added that “the government can reduce poverty through education by increasing the provision of ICT in schools in the rural areas.
She said it would encourage periodic training to expose teachers to modern-day teaching methods and increase teachers incentives in order to encourage the teaching profession and encourage the free education system.
Mrs Uche Onwugbufor, former cultural and creative arts Coordinator FCT-UBEB, noted that reviving the education system would make every child self-sufficient, and government would not need to give incentives to keep them off the streets or crime.
“Nigeria cannot sit back and watch other nations make progress in the common quest for economic independence and the ability to deal with the problem of unemployment, poverty, and other related socio-economic challenges.
“If you are looking for the best schools, you can only find them in the private sector because our public education is being neglected by the government.
“On this note, we are committed to ensuring that we improve the quality of education and livelihood of our pupils in public schools,” Onwugbufor said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the highlights of the event were donation of learning materials such as school bags, books, teaching materials for teachers by the foundation. (NAN)