Opinion
Towards Improved Education For Nigeria’s Children
Calista Ezeaku
There is no gainsaying, education is vital to the development of any nation. It is a
process through which individuals are made functional members of their society.
It is a process through which the young acquire knowledge, realise their
potentials and use them for self-actualisation to be useful to themselves and
others. In every society, education connotes acquisition of worthwhile knowledge. That is the reason different countries of the
world invest on qualitative education of the entire populace especially the
younger ones.
Nigerian
government is not left behind in the effort towards the attainment of Education
for All EFA and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
A
few days ago, the federal government constituted a 17 member committee for
integration of the out of school children from the south-south and south east
into the basic education system.
Inaugurating
the committee in Abuja the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike decried the low
number of enrolment for boys in the south-south and south east.
In
his words, “In spite of the collective efforts of governments at all levels, we
know that we are still far from our destination as far as the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) and education for All (EFA) are concerned.
“We
know that we have made tremendous improvement in access and national enrolment
but millions of our children particularly boys in south- south and south east
states are out of school”.
I
think such commitment to addressing basic education challenges should be
commended and encouraged for better result.
In
the south eastern states the increasing boy child dropout rate is a serious
concern and one which will have a detrimental impact on the future of the
region and the nation.
In
many families in this region, boys no longer have interest in education.
Because school graduates find it difficult to secure jobs that match their
education, the younger generation sees little practical value in staying in
school beyond a few primary grades.
Some
parents equally see investment in the education of their children as a useless
venture as such children often come back to them after graduation, failing to
secure meaningful employment, when their counterparts in business have become,
“millionaires”.
So
the fundamental problem is our value system. The emphasis on wealth
accumulation has trumped-up the core value of education. The family, society
and even the education system teach our children to value wealth accumulation
than the acquisition of knowledge and problem solving skills. A man’s worth is
measured by his material acquisition, not minding how he got them.
This
wrong value system, some people argue, is the reson for high rate of
kidnapping, armed robbery and other social-vices prevalent in the country,
particularly in south-east and south-south regions. Our youths are pre-occupied
with an elusive chase for wealth which has prompted them to engage in
unbecoming acts.
Education
experts also attribute the increasing number of out of school children in these
states to poverty and poor quality of education leading to dissatisfaction from
parents and opportunity cost as parents would rather have their children make
extra money through hawking than going to schools.
This
problem can be solved by governors of the south-south and south-east states
emulating Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his Imo counterpart, Rochas
Okorocha, who have declared total free education for primary and secondary
school children.
Adequate
funding of the education system should be the priority of these governors,
coupled with proper remuneration, training and discipline of teachers.
Government’s
should ensure that funds allocated for out of school children are used for the
slated purpose, ensuring that they carry out quality infrastructural works that
would stand the test of time.
There
is need for Nigeria to imbibe the culture of other countries that provide for
children who are not financially strong. Many of these children have talents
within them that can facilitate a better Nigeria someday.
Parents
should also contribute to reducing the number of out-of-school children by
ensuring that their children are planned for, so as to make it easier for them
to be properly cared for. Parents should also be sensitised on the importance
of education. They should be made to realise that no other investment has such
a lasting effect as the education of children.
Well to do citizens in the south-south and south
east states should support government programmes that will lift children out of
poverty and ignorance and be of lasting benefit to future generations.
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Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
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