The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has pledged its support for the declaration of a state of emergency in the country’s education sector. This announcement was made by Governor Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman of Kwara State, the Chairman of the NGF, during the National Conference on the Learning Crisis in Nigeria held in Abuja on Wednesday.
Themed “Scaling Foundational Literacy and Numeracy in Nigeria,” the conference was jointly organized by the Federal Ministry of Education and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Representing the NGF Chairman, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Abdulrahman emphasized the urgency of the education crisis and urged for the declaration of a state of emergency. He stressed the need to address all barriers, including gender inequality, poverty, geographic disparities, disabilities, language barriers, and ethnic differences that impede access to quality education.
“To achieve a progressive and sustainable education system, we must adhere to UNESCO standards. Each state must allocate a minimum of 15 percent of its budget to education,” Governor Abdulrahman stated.
While expressing support for the declaration of a state of emergency, he emphasized the importance of backing it up with necessary resources and tackling the factors that hinder sustainable growth in the education sector. The NGF Chairman stressed that a solid roadmap is required and called for collective efforts in tackling the crisis.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, acknowledged the learning crisis as a significant challenge that demands urgent attention and resolution in the education sector.
“The consequences of this learning crisis are wide-ranging and profound. Failing to address it could further widen the existing education gap, perpetuate a cycle of poverty, illiteracy, diseases, and hinder innovation and progress,” said Dr. Sununu.
Highlighting the multifaceted factors contributing to the crisis, Dr. Sununu identified inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, inequitable resource distribution, outdated curricula, and socio-economic disparities as key issues that must be addressed.
The support of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the collaboration between the government and international organizations such as UNICEF signify a commitment to tackle the challenges plaguing the education system. This move towards declaring a state of emergency in the education sector, accompanied by concrete actions and the allocation of adequate resources, is a significant step towards ensuring quality education for all Nigerian children.
