Former Secretary Of Universities Commission Call For Free Basic Education

 

The Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Emeritus Julius Okojie has called on government at all levels to make education free and compulsory at the basic and Secondary education levels across Nigeria.

Professor Okojie also called on the government of President Bola Tinubu to prioritise Girl-Child Education and provision of infrastructure in the basic education sub sector.

He made the call in Abuja during the official launch of Thomas Agnes Christianah Okojie Charity foundation TACO , a non-governmental organisation and the Maiden edition of Julius Okojie Lecture Series.

According to Prof. Okojie, “There is so much work to do in this country. I have always preached free primary and secondary education but we are not doing it , universities could go on strike every day, there is no where in the world that you don’t have that. So that has propelled me.”

“Having worked through the public service, I know that a girl who has no education does not have a space in this country. So I have been doing that informally in the years past.

“So education is the least you can give to children. I have sent many children to school, tuition in public basic schools are not very expensive,” he said.

Call To Action
Professor Okojie called states to put action in adequate provision of facilities for basic schools across states while also decry the decay in infrastructure in primary schools.

He said; “We owe it to every Nigerian child free primary, secondary education should be made compulsory. Students study under tree and we are not looking at them, they are half baked, the poor become poorer in education and daily life.”

Professor Okojie expressed readiness to devote full time to the education of the girl child and also support in provision of basic social amenities in the basic schools and in overall give back to the system.

“I am ready to make borehole for institutions that don’t have, checking the health condition of people in the villages because my child is a doctor, so we cannot give enough to this system as I benefited from it. My son benefited from scholarships so we owe it to this country to do such,” he explained.

The Guest Speaker Prof. Desireé Guobadia in her presentation on the Nigerian University System : What Next, emphasised the need to strengthen primary and secondary education.

Professor Guobadia called for reconsideration of Higher School Certificate programmes saying this would bridge the gap between secondary school and the universities.

According to her “the maturity expected of secondary school graduate before enrolled into universities are missing hence the need to provide much needed training platforms for student to acquire more experience before their integration into higher institutions.”

She added that the 6-3-3-4 of the Nigerian basic education should lead to acquisition of knowledge and skills to make room for those not proceeding to higher institutions.

Professor Guobadia called for more efforts in providing employment opportunities for post secondary school graduates.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki , described Professor okojie as a consistent educationist with acute sense of responsibilities.

He said that Nigerian universities were still under subscribed despite the increasing numbers of students to be served.

He affirmed the role of the National Universities Commission in upholding sanctity and quality of academic programmes in the universities.

TACO Charity Foundation
TACO charity foundation was launched in honour of Professor Julius Okojie to sustain his passion for provision of basic education to the less privilege , give attention to girl child education and also address challenges facing widows in Nigeria.

A member of the Board of Trustees of TACO Foundation, Valeri Okojie , said the project would be sustained through fund raising from board of trustees and other foundations who share the same values with the foundation.

In attendant were; Chairman Police Service Commission, Solomon Arase, past Deputy Executive Secretaries of the National Universities Commission amongst others.

TACO charity also founded to support humanity and a full representation of the life of Prof. Emeritus Okojie ; the trustees are Mr Thomas Okojie the Chairman, Mrs Adesua Fadipe member, Dr Seun Okojie and Barr. Eromonsele Okojie all are expected to carry on the legacy of showing love to people through the foundation.

Prof Okojie’s 75th birthday
The event also marked the 75th Birthday of Nigeria’s former Executive Secretary ,Prof. Julius Okojie.

 

 

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere