EDUCATION.

 

EDUCATION AS THE BEDROCK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY SOCIETY 

It is no longer news that the Jonathan administration established 12 new Federal Universities. Nine are already in full swing with academic activities, while the last three are to start academic activities later this year.

With unprecedented determination to address educational lapses since our independence, all the new universities have been given take-off grants for mass infrastructural development, unlike what was obtainable in the past where new federal universities had to start academic work on very shaky infrastructure.

1] Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State. - North Central.
2] Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State. - North Central.
3] Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State. - North East.
4] Federal University, Wakari, Taraba State. - North East.
5] Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State.- North West.
6] Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State. - North West.
7] Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State. - South South.
8] Federal University, Ndufe-Alike, Ebonyi State. - South East.
9] Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State. - South West 
10] Federal University, Gashua , Yobe State. - North East.
11] Federal University; Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.- North West
12] Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara State. - North West

* Police College Wudil, Kano also upgraded to a University
* Nigeria Defense Academy, Kaduna upgraded to a University 

Notably, Nine (9) of these new Universities are located in the North while Three (3) in the South, in sheer passion to address previous imbalance, promote mass literacy, create jobs, empower the north and strengthen democracy. Indeed nothing promotes democracy like education – the ability to make the right decisions, and resist manipulation on basis of tribal or religious sentiments. 

According to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and cultural Rights; “Education is both a human right in itself and an indispensable means of realizing other human rights”. 

Education builds human capital, increases the society’s capacity to be a player in the modern world of science and technology where value-addition in the different spheres of life increases productivity and enriches the nation.

A person who goes through the university is not trained for one state or environment alone. He is trained to be a world citizen, speaking the language of a new knowledge. Whatever you study, if you choose to be a farmer you’ll certainly become a better farmer – appreciate mechanized agriculture, use of resistant varieties, and extension services, etc

And in every other respect, the commencement of these new Universities has long begun to create massive employments for all categories of sane persons in these states; as Lecturers, Administrative Staff, Technicians, Laboratory attendants, Cleaners, Security Men, Typists and contactors of diverse kinds in the massive construction projects on going at the various locations. 
The ripple effect is tremendous increase in the economic power of these individuals and improvement in the health and standard of living for all associated, and their families too.

May we look beyond the devious distractions of those who fight education, and commend projects like this, so we can achieve the educational system of our dreams. 

This is an Outstanding Pass Mark for the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Administration in the education sector which History will never forget.