Niegria: Education is top priority – FG

The Federal Government has said that it will continue to pay high premium on education as part of its transformation agenda geared towards making Nigeria one of the largest economy by the year 2020.

Education Minister Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i said this during the 32nd convocation ceremony of Adeyemi College of Education held at the campus of the institution in Ondo town.



Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Mac John Nwaobiala, Rufai said the present administration is committed towards the repositioning of the education sector for better service delivery.

She disclosed that as part of effort aimed towards addressing some the challenges facing the Nigeria education system, her ministry embarked on the development of four years strategic plan, spanning the years 2011-2015, for the development of the sector.

While noting the importance of teacher education in the society, Prof. Rufa’i stated that this form of education remains the bedrock of sustainable human resources required for the attainment of national development goal.

The minister added that the attainment of Education For All, Millennium Development Goal objectives and vision 20:2020 would be a mirage if not hinged on excellent teacher education and development.

She listed the various initiatives taken by the Federal Government towards its commitment to teacher education to include increment in budgetary allocation for capacity building of teachers across the federation and the recruitment of new teachers under the Federal Teachers Scheme.

Others according to the minister include the injection of fund into Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) local and oversea training of teachers among others.

The Provost of the College, Prof. Adeyemi Idowu, while expressing appreciation to the Federal Government for its commitments in the education sector, appealed for more financial support saying the move would enable the college to be run effectively.

He listed some of the needs of the institution to include hostel accommodation, classrooms, lecture theatres, office spaces furniture among other.

He, however, reiterated the determination of the institutions’ management towards sustaining the various achievements recorded and production of qualified manpower both in learning and character for the education sector in line with the mission and vision of establishing the college by its founding fathers.