National President, of
Academic Staff Union of
Universities, (ASUU), Prof.
Ukachukwu Awuzie, has said
improving the education
sector will yield more money
than crude oil.
Awuzie told the News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba
that improving the
educational system would
encourage other African
countries to send their
children to Nigeria for
studies.
He said: “As it is now, our
sister countries, send their
wards to Europe for
schooling, because they
believe that their children will
get quality education there.
“ But if we can improve our
educational system here,
these people will now be
sending their children to our
country, and this means
more revenue will be
generated. ”
Awuzie said Nigeria was
blessed with quality
academics who, when allowed
to operate in an enabling
environment, would fast-
track national development.
“If the government provides
the necessary environment
for teaching, then
professional ethics will be
kept, ” he said and he
harped on the need for the
country to have good public
schools to ensure that every
Nigerian benefites from
sound education.
Awuzie said it was not in the
interest of the country for
policy makers not to
appropriate substantial
funds to the education
sector.
“ The reason for this is not
far fetched; they use the
privilege of their position to
appropriate these funds to
themselves.
“ They corner the resources
of this nation and use them
to send their children abroad
for education so as to create
a class between graduates
of Nigerian universities and
their children.
“Meanwhile, the policies they
make can be used to improve
the quality of education and
enhance access to education
by the majority of the
Nigerian children, ” the he
said and called on Nigerian
students to unite in the
struggle to reposition
education in the country, as
the future would be bleak if
they did not.
He said the repositioning
should start with educational
empowerment, enlightenment
and skills adding that the
last strike embarked upon by
the union had only been
suspended, but not called
off, because the agreement
reached with the Federal
Government and its impact
would be reassessed in
2012.