Fund education for accelerated national devt, stakeholders tell FG

From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Stakeholders in educational sector on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to step up sustainable funding option for accelerated national development in higher Institutions of learning.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the first National Conference of the Directorate of UNIBEN Degree Programme of Delta state College Of Education, Mosogar in collaboration with the Faculty of Education, University of Benin on Monday, signed by Dr Moses Ossai, Chairman, Local organizing Committee, and Dr Nathaniel Egwu, Director, UNIBEN Affiliate Degree Programme, College Of Education, Mosogar, also called for the introduction of more innovative academic programmes in tertiary institutions, consistent staff training to enhance professionalism and improved remuneration and support to avoid brain drain.
The communiqué also sought to discourage students from joining secret cults through constant interaction and counseling and advocated zero tolerance for corruption and other social vices such as examination malpractice and sexual abuse, adding” we further seek to identify the problems of dwindling education in the country as well as proffer solution that will help address development challenges of our tertiary institutions as a driver of national socio economic and political growth.”
Three renowned University Dons, Professor E.O.S , Iyamu, Dean Faculty of Education, University of Benin, Dr D.D. Whawo , Director of Academic Planning, Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha- Otor, and Professor Mon Nwadiani, and Faculty of Education, UNIBEN, Who presented papers at the Conference,all acceded to the fact that tertiary education was the hub of national building as well as national growth and development
They remarked that countries that have been able to create and maintain effective and functional tertiary education system are distinguished in the area of science and technology,in addition to making a relatively fast progress in all indicators of social and economic growth and development
It informed that the participants that tertiary education was the actual and most reliable solution to the problem of underdevelopment that currently bedevils Nigeria and other African countries.