Solution to multifaceted challenges facing Nigeria is to train Nigerian children and prepare them to face the future.
The Outgoing Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education , Arc Sonny Echono, said this while giving his valedictory statement as he bows out of the Federal Civil Service, completing is tour of duties at the Federal Ministry of Education.
While applauding President Muhammadu Buhari’s responses to education sector matters, Echono said he was fulfilled that throughout the four years of his being the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, there was no single memo sent to the President that had not been approved.
He described the education sector as a critical sector to national development, he added that If Nigeria trains her population, it will inturn create employment & build the workforce for the country.
The Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, disclosed that both him and the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, attempted elongating the tenure of Echono but failed ,he added that Echono rejected the offer and that President Muhammadu Buhari might not be disposed to it.
The Registrar and Chief of Executive of Teachers’Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Professor Josiah Ajiboye, who spoke on behalf of other Chief Executives of Agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education, said Echono had been the live wire of the Ministry and that the education sector could not afford to let him go because of his dynamism and versatility.
He noted that his exit has created a great challenge for anybody who would take over from him “because you have enlarged the shoes”
The Director, Human Resources, Mr David Gende, earlier in his remark on behalf of other directors in the Ministry spoke glowingly of the Permanent Secretary and listed several achievements to his credit including the recently resuscitated National Senior Secondary Education Commission NSSEC),the establishment of New Polytechnics, universities,colleges of education and the newly established Unity Colleges.
The Retired Permanent Secretary, Sonny Echono retired after 35 years of meritorious service to the nation and on Thursday handed over the baton of office of the Director, Human Resources, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Gende in acting capacity.
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