A former Executive Chairman/ Chief Executive of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna Friday pleaded with well-to-do Nigerians to invest in education.
He said an ignorant population is a liability to any nation.
He said Nigerians with means to sponsor the education of their children may endanger their families if the children of their neighbours do not have the same opportunity.
Haruna made the plea at the commissioning of a boulevard in honour of the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Muh’d in Havilla University, Nde Ikom in Cross River state.
He said: “Since an ignorant population is not only a liability to the nation but equally constitute a huge security threat to our existence, let me call on Nigerians with means to individually and in collaboration or partnership to join hands and establish standard educational institutions that can provide quality entrepreneurial and affordable education as a societal social responsibility.
“Remember, if you have means to sponsor education of your children alone, your neighbour’s children without the same opportunity will not allow you and your family to live safely and happily in no distant time.”
“Nigerians with means to individually and in collaboration or partnership to join hands and establish standard educational institutions that can provide quality entrepreneurial and affordable education as a societal social responsibility.”
Haruna said more investments were needed in education because most public institutions in Nigeria have become overstretched.
He said the affected institutions have dilapidated and outdated infrastructure and equipment.
He added: “It is no longer news that the carrying capacities of most of our tertiary public institutions are overstretched and are burden with dilapidated and outdated infrastructure and equipment.
“It is estimated that more than half of the two hundred and thirteen (213) million population of Nigeria are under the age of twenty (20) with a large percentage of out of school children and drop outs.
“A recent study for the period of 1960-2023, computed average annual budgetary allocation made to education sector of Nigeria at about 5.94%. This is below UNESCO recommendation of 15%, 20% and 26% at different levels of education. “The annual percentage budgetary allocations to the sector by the Governments of Ghana, South Africa, Senegal, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco are significantly higher than that of Nigeria.
“The quality and quantity of infrastructure I am commissioning here today on behalf of his highness, the Emir of Lafia and Chairman, Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs, Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad (I) is highly impressive and worthy of emulation.”
