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The Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), Mr. Auwal Rafsanjani has cautioned against squandering of recovered looted funds as they are to be judiciously utilized in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mr. Rafsanjani made this known during a one-day seminar organized by corps members serving at Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), to commemorate the International Education Day in Abuja.
The event tagged: “Creating Creative Solutions to Challenges in Africa”, was aimed at highlighting the roles of youths in the attainment of SDGs in the country.
He added that, the government should channel looted funds to transform and develop the education sector as it will serve as a panacea to the ills bedevilling the country.
“To fight corruption and make the society better, there is a need for our government to invest in educating our youths. If they are properly educated, they will contribute their creative ideas to the advancement of the country” he noted.
Meanwhile, the chief host and Chairman of IMPR, Mallam Sule Yau Sule said the dilapidated state of our education system has been the basis of insecurity like kidnapping and terrorism in the country.
“Lack of quality education, indiscipline and corruption are among many other epidemics that have consistently posed greater challenges to the development of the country”
“When we have quality education as well as facilities, it will serve as a panacea to the ills of our society. That is why IMPR is investing in youths by training and reorienting them towards contributing their quota to achieving the SDGs” he emphasized.
Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), serving at Image Merchant Promotion Limited (IMPR), and the conveners of the event called on government and relevant stakeholders to invest in education and creativity which is a major concern in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The main convener of the program, Mr. Tomori Uriel, said the aim of the program is to discuss on the possible ways to achieve quality and equitable education in line with the provision of the SDGs
Mr. Tomori added that, the program will help sharpen the curiosity, critical thinking, creative talent and problem-solving spirits of the youths.
“For Nigeria to develop sustainably, our government and stake holders need to take quality education, skills acquisition and youth empowerment more seriously. We must shun corruption and indiscipline, while reducing the illiteracy gap, most especially among the youths” he noted.
Mr. Isah Ismaila, a co-convener adds that, it is important for the government to invest in creative and innovative youths and develop our curriculum to fit global trends as the world has become more connected and digitally inclined.
“If our curriculum fails to birth genuine literates who will bridge the digital gap between our societies and the developed ones, it is indeed a huge challenge to our education system. But if that is achieved, it will serve as a remedy to the ills of our society” he added.
Similarly, Mr. Segun Adeyemi noted that there is a need for government to increase funding of the education system and remuneration of teachers as the sector and workers are underfunded and paid respectively.
“One of the major reasons why we don’t have competent teachers is as a result of proper payment of their salaries and has paved ways for quacks in the teaching profession. Also, there is a need to review our curricular to encourage specialized and strategic academic environment”
