Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna, former Executive Chairman of NASENI, has implored affluent Nigerians to invest in education, underscoring the pivotal role education plays in national development.
During the inauguration of a boulevard honouring the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Muh’d at Havilla University, Nde Ikom in Cross River State, Haruna emphasized that an uninformed population poses both a liability and a security threat to the nation.
He urged well-off Nigerians to consider sponsoring the education of not only their children but also those in their communities, highlighting the potential risks associated with an unequal access to education.
Expressing concern over the state of public educational institutions, Haruna stressed the need for substantial investments in the education sector.
He pointed out that many institutions in Nigeria suffer from overstretching, dilapidated infrastructure, and outdated equipment. Citing alarming statistics, he noted that over half of Nigeria’s 213 million population is under the age of 20, with a significant percentage of children out of school or dropping out.
Haruna drew attention to the UNESCO-recommended benchmark for education budget allocations, revealing that Nigeria consistently falls short, allocating only about 5.94% annually.
In contrast, he highlighted that other African countries like Ghana, South Africa, Senegal, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco allocate significantly higher percentages of their budgets to education.
The former NASENI chief commended the quality and quantity of educational infrastructure at Havilla University, emphasizing the need for such standards to be replicated across the nation.
He concluded by emphasizing that education is the key to achieving a high quality of life and fostering social integration within society. Haruna’s passionate plea serves as a rallying cry for increased investment in education for the betterment of Nigeria’s future.
