Sambo Opens ESI Confab, ’Morrow

Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo and former World Bank Vice President for Africa, Dr Oby Ezekwesili are among dignitaries expected at the two-day National Conference on Kindergarten Education which opens in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, tomorrow.

Also expected at the event are World Bank Country Director, and Minister of Education, Prof Ruqkayatu Rufai who is billed to deliver the keynote address.

The National Conference on Kindergarten Education is an annual forum instituted by a non-governmental organisation, the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) three years ago to promote the development of early childhood development and education in Nigeria.

The theme for the 2012 conference is; Legislation and Implementation of Kindergraten Education in Nigeria: Issues and Challenges.

A statement issued by the administrator of the NGO indicates that the objective of the conference is to institute continuous advocacy on early child education in Nigeria with a view to implementing relevant legislations, including the revised National Policy on Education 2004 and the Universal Basic Education Act of 2004.

The 2-day conference will also commemorate the 4th anniversary of the NGO which was founded on the 16th of October, 2008. The NGO will also graduate 745 children in the third batch of its early nursery education programme.

ESI, with a student enrolment of over 4,000 including girls representing 59 per cent and 1,725 boys representing 41 per cent has so far graduated 1,833 pupils.

Though it began its nursery schools in a temporary structure, it has established over 84 structures since inception in over 74 communities across nine local government areas of Rivers State, and 20 permanent school learning facilities across the state.

The event, which begins today at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, will witness children’s parliament, among other activities.