The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed support for the declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector…CONTINUE READUING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking at the National Conference on the Learning Crisis in Nigeria in Abuja, Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman of Kwara State, who chairs the NGF, emphasized the need to allocate resources for a sustainable and promising education system.

The conference, organized by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), focused on the theme of ‘Scaling Foundational Literacy and Numeracy in Nigeria.’

Represented by the Vice Chairman of the NGF, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Abdulrahman stressed that the education sector is currently facing a crisis and that declaring a state of emergency is crucial.

He called for the removal of all barriers, such as gender, poverty, location, disabilities, language, and ethnicity, that can hinder children from accessing foundational literacy and numeracy.

Governor Abdulrahman stated, “We must follow UNESCO standards for an education system that is progressive and sustainable; governors at the various states must commit above 15 percent of our budget to education.”

He expressed his support for the call to declare a state of emergency but emphasized the need for concrete actions and adequate resource allocation to achieve this goal.

He acknowledged that while declaring a state of emergency is a significant step, it is equally important to provide the necessary resources and address the issues that have hindered sustainable growth in the education sector.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, also emphasized the urgency of addressing the learning crisis in the education sector.

He noted that this crisis has far-reaching consequences, including the risk of widening education gaps and perpetuating cycles of poverty, illiteracy, and disease.

The minister highlighted various challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, and unequal access to quality education, as factors contributing to the learning crisis in Nigeria.

He emphasized the importance of immediate attention, dedication, and action to address these challenges and promote education as a cornerstone of societal progress and individual empowerment.