Tijjani Bande

Nigeria has pledged to continue to use the International Day of Education to advocate for more qualitative, inclusive and accessible education for all residents in Nigeria and beyond.

The Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, stated this in New York at a conference to mark the maiden edition of International Day of Education at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The UN General Assembly on Dec. 3, 2018  adopted by consensus, the Nigeria-led resolution to proclaim January 24 every year as the ‘International Day of Education’.

Bande said, “As a country that spearheaded the introduction and adoption of the General Assembly’s Resolution that land marked today as International Day of Education, Nigeria will continue to use the occasion to advocate for more qualitative, inclusive and accessible education for all residents in Nigeria and beyond”.

“We would also continue to leverage partnerships that would help to bridge the current gaps in educational opportunities for many people in the developing world, especially women, girls and people with disabilities.

“Nigeria has long been known to provide critical educational support to countries in Africa, Carribean and Pacific (ACP), through among other means, the Technical Aide Corp, which has been sending (and paying) teachers and other professionals to ACP countries for over three decades, thereby deepening South-South cooperation”.

The Nigerian ambassador said over the last three decades, Nigeria had placed premium on the expansion and enhancement of educational opportunities in the country.

According to him, Nigeria has launched and is executing the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Programme, thereby guaranteeing a nine-year basic education programme aimed at eradicating illiteracy, ignorance and poverty, while accelerating national development and integration.

“The UBE focuses on ensuring uninterrupted access to free and compulsory six years Primary, and three years Junior Secondary education, for every child, regardless of nationality”.

“It has also established the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to bridge the shortfalls in education funding by government, and better cater for the infrastructural, instructional, academic staff training and research development in our tertiary institutions. In addition, Nigeria has continued to give needed priority for girl-child education, among several other initiatives,” Bande said.

Ms Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), expressed heartfelt appreciation to Nigeria for leading the resolution and to all the Member States that supported its adoption.

Giannini said the adoption of the Nigeria-led resolution signaled a determination to prioritise education on the political agenda as the most powerful force to end poverty, drive inclusive growth, strengthen peace and protect the planet.

She said the resolution came at a decisive time, noting that millions of children, youth and adults are missing out on education; a fundamental human right and the path to a better future.

The UNESCO official also regretted that girls and women faced the highest deprivation.

“This captures the essence of our responsibility. This is to ensure that no one is left behind, and that learning leads to a virtuous circle of transformation for people and societies. Higher levels of education are more than ever required to navigate our complex and unpredictable times,” she said.

Ms Denise Williams, President and Co-founder of Silicon-Valley Nigeria Economic Development (SVNED), said the International Day of Education gave everybody the opportunity to combine and enhance educational standards and best practices for all.

Williams said the day should advocate for the provision of the basic needs at schools, while evolve into incorporating technology into the classrooms and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

“My success story is highly attributed to the teachers and mentors who have been committed to securing higher and quality education for my professional and academic development”.

“And now it’s my opportunity to pay it forward through the Immersion Programmes, economic summits in Information technology, AgTech and FinTech”.

“We are charged to train, certify, and pair talent with employer for youths from all over the world in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT),” she said.

His Holiness, Pope Francis, in a video message, evoked the universal dimensions of access, inclusion, and cultivating open mindsets and freedom of thought.

Other speakers at the event included the State Minister of Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jens Holte, and ambassadors of Ireland, Singapore and Qatar – the co-sponsors of the resolution on International Day of Education. (NAN)