Opinion
Of Primary Education And Child Dev
Primary education is the foundation upon which all education system is built. The term primary education denotes the kind of formal education meant for children between ages five and six and ages 11 and 12. However, people above these ages can still be found in primary schools for one reason or the other.
Presently in Nigeria, a number of children admitted into primary schools pass through kindergarten and nursery schools which normally admit children below the age of five and its takes six years to complete primary education. Primary school is basic and has served as a terminal education level for majority of people who could not go for higher education owing to certain circumstances.
The first primary school in Nigeria was opened in 1842 by Thomas Birch Freeman of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Badagry, near Lagos. Other churches that blazed the trail of opening primary schools include the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in 1843, the Church of Scotland Mission (1946), the African Mission of South Baptist Convention of America (1850) and the Roman Catholic Mission (1860).
Apart from the Church of Scotland Mission which started its evangelical and educational work in Calabar, all the missionary bodies started work in or near Lagos spreading inland into Yoruba land and then other parts of the country. Another early centre of educational and missionary activity was Onitsha, which became the headquarters of CMS and RCM churches in Nigeria. It is worthy of note that these missionaries established schools as the surest method of seeking converts and expanding the Christian religion.
The competition and rivalry among the different Christian sects and their desire to outsmart and beat one another in the struggle to win souls for Christ led to the proliferation of schools manned by half-literate and ill-equipped Nigerians. Government participation and effort in education was based on four precepts namely giving grants to some voluntary agencies engaged in educational pursuit or work, legislating on education, providing schools of its own and trying to control quality through an inspectorate system.
The colonial government paid little or no attention to education until 1877 when it gave an annual grant of £200 to each of the three missions- the CMS, the Wesleyans and the RCM. The first purely Nigerian education ordinance was enacted in 1886, which made provision for the establishment of a Board of Education. The first government primary school was established in Lagos in 1889 for the education of Muslim children while the first Inspector of Schools specifically for the colony and protectorate of Lagos was Dr Henry Carr who was appointed in 1892. Quality control in education was the only work of the Inspectorate Division of the various ministries of education.
From the establishment of British rule in the second half of the 19th century to 1926, separate educational policies were pursued in the Northern and Southern Nigeria.
In 1926, the two education systems-Muslim and Christian religion, were unified under one Director of Education and the 1951 Constitution later made education a regional matter, compelling all the regional governments to embark on a revolutionary expansion of primary educational facilities and enrolment.
The introduction of free Universal Primary Education (UPE) was kick-started in 1955 by the Western region and the Eastern region followed suit in 1957 while the introduction of the free UPE became a national policy as a significant post-war developed by General Yakubu Gowon in 1976.
Primary education is the bedrock of education of any child. The educational attainment of any child is determined by his or her capabilities or performances at the primary level. No child can perform brilliantly at the secondary school level if the capabilities are not up to standard. That is why government came up with the policy that a child must pass through the primary stage and write entrance examination before being admitted into secondary school to be properly disposed or grounded.
Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1948 asserted that everyone has the right to education which at least shall be free in the elementary and primary stages. It further stated that education shall be compulsory, while technical and professional education shall be made generally available. It also stated that higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit, and that parents have a priority right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
The General Assembly on November 29, 1959 further declared the right of a child to special care if handicapped and that the child has the right to free education, the right to learn to be a useful member of the society, the right to develop his abilities and the right to enjoy full opportunity for play and recreation. It may be realised that no education is actually free in the final analysis as somebody must pay for it after all – may be a single individual, the community or the government. There is always an observed snag in the system. Nigerians are corrupt and the success or failure of the free UPE scheme depends more on the morality of our leaders than on the ability of the government to fund it. The problem of funding primary education in Nigeria has been persisted and an age-long one.
A major area that needs serious attention in the primary school and among our children is the increasing rate of indiscipline and the concomitant effects among pupils and youths as well as on the school system. Most disturbing is the indiscriminate use of hard drugs, arms and weapons among children of school age.
The home is rapidly losing its influence on the growth and development of the child. So the education authorities must fashion out ways by which our primary schools can contribute more effectively to the trend. Efficient guidance and counseling units should be established in all the primary and secondary schools to assist children in their growth, physically, socially and educationally.
Some teachers contribute to the question of indiscipline among students due to their misconduct. The future of public primary education rests mostly on the character, caliber and integrity of those training the minds of our future leaders. The Primary Schools Management Boards and the Post-Primary Schools Management Boards have an important role to play in instilling discipline in teachers. There must be quality to match quantity considering the noticeable proliferation of schools. It is the responsibility of teachers to help address the present decline in education standards at all levels and halt the over increasing rate of failure and drop outs among our children. Teachers should re-examine their conscience and see how they can reinvent the falling standard of education now that the government is trying its best to ameliorate their deprivations.
It is now an open policy that the first school leaving certificate is an important criteria by which people are judged during employment or admission into higher schools. It therefore, behooves primary school teachers to guide our children properly to take their studies more seriously. Some children fail because the teachers fail to do their jobs right.
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
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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