As the time draws near for Bola Ahmed Tinubu to present the 2024 budget, his first budget as President of Nigeria, it is crucial to emphasise the pressing need for substantial investment in the education sector.
The preceding President Muhammadu Buhari government allocated a significant portion of the national budget to the security sector. While security is necessary, it is equally important to recognise the pivotal role education plays in the development of a nation.
Education is the cornerstone of awareness and knowledge, serving as the bedrock for economic growth and national progress. Unfortunately, the Nigerian government has not given this sector the attention it deserves, and this oversight has had far-reaching consequences.
The challenges facing our country, including insecurity and various socio-economic issues, can be largely attributed to the neglect of the education sector.
Apparently, most of the bandits and extremists that hide in bushes and creeks, killing and kidnapping innocent people, lack basic education and knowledge on how to fight for their rights in a righteous and progressive manner. Most of them did not attend school due to lack of educational institutions near them and lack of access to those that were far away.
However, the neglect has led to a situation where many Nigerians find it increasingly difficult to access quality education. Soaring tuition fees and the prevailing economic hardships have compounded the issue, leaving countless young minds without the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for a brighter future.
Many students, especially those in public universities, are now dropping out of school due to the recent hike in tuition fees. Students have high ambitions of becoming successful in life, but now they are no longer fulfilling their ambitions, so what are the other ways for them to become successful?
Therefore, it is very important for the government to take vital steps to address this situation. By investing significantly in the education sector, we can nurture a generation of informed and empowered individuals who will be better equipped to contribute to the development and security of our nation.
As we anticipate the budget presentation in the coming weeks, I call on President Tinubu and his team to recognise the urgency of the matter.
Muhammad Yasir Garba,
Department of Mass Communication,
University of Maiduguri, Borno state
