Education: Stakeholders call for investment in human capital development

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s Education section have called for more investment in human capital development by increasing budgets and programs in the sector.

They made the call during the first inaugural lecture of the late General Sam Momah held in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The Chairman of the occasion, Nigeria’s Former Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh decried the poor reading culture in the country.

“This is the point General Momah made in his book, he saw difficulties of development.”

Presenting the keynote paper on the theme of the commemorative inaugural lecture; “Emerging Economies and the Nigerian Conundrum,” Professor of Political Science from Dillard University, New Orleans in the United States, Nchor Okorn said “It is of necessity for the Nigerian government to show a commitment to developing a national strategy for stability with the sincerity to admit when policy initiatives are not working as anticipated.

“The government should adopt a strategy of meritocracy by putting people in portfolios that, fit their productive potential and abilities”

 “There must be a visionary leadership ready to sacrifice short term personal aggrandizement for National development. Nigerians are intelligent people but need an open-minded leader who can play it fair with them in order for them to follow and achieve their personal objectives and allow Nigerian to achieve its National goals and objectives,” he added.

Special guests at the event agreed in their separate goodwill messages that the occasion of the 1st commemorative year of the passing of the Statesman, a Soldier and a Scholar, the late General Momah is with a call to action with the Sam Momah Foundation.

Responding to issues discussed in one of the books authored by the late statesman, Kingsley Moghalu, warned that Nigeria should not overlook the importance of justice and equity.

Speaking on Sam Momah Foundation, Dr Nkem Momah, said the late father instituted the foundation with the mandate to deepen reading culture in the country.

“My father had a passion for education hence he felt if we read more leadership efficiency will be highly improved in Nigeria.

“Already there are four approaches to achieving the goals of the late father on Sam Momah Foundation and these includes, reading competition in secondary schools, upgrade of the infrastructure of schools in low income earning communities, we also intend to build libraries in the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. 

“We don’t expect to fund it ourselves but we intend to partner with stakeholders to make this possible. we hope the libraries will be convergence for our nation, policymakers and decision-makers as a whole.”

The late Major General Sam Momah was a former Minister of Science and Technology from 1995 to 1999 and a former member of the Nigerian Arm Force Ruling Council.

He authored 13 books among which are; “Nigeria Beyond Divorce” and “Why We Must Restructure Now.” 

PIAK