Being Text of a Speech by His Excellency, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, OON (Madauchin Doma), Executive Governor, Nasarawa State on the Occasion of the Inauguration of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board and One-Day Interactive Session for Stakeholders in the Education Sector, Lafia, Thursday, 5th February, 2009

 PROTOCOL:

 I am pleased to welcome you all to this important occasion for:

the inauguration of the reconstituted Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board; and,

the Interactive Session for Stakeholders in Education.

I am delighted to observe the large turnout of invited guests and stakeholders at this occasion. I welcome this gesture of support and solidarity. It is indeed a good omen for the future of education in the State.

Ladies and gentlemen, you would recall that in April 2008, I set up a 16-member High-Powered Education Reform Committee for the purpose of repositioning and refocusing education in the State. The Committee has submitted its report. A technical report containing strategies for the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations has also been received.

The inauguration of the reconstituted State Universal Basic Education Board today is therefore, part of the implementation process.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to point out that the members of the Board have been carefully selected based on their professionalism, integrity, wealth of experience, as well as the need to bring on board the diverse interests in education management. Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to congratulate all the members of the Board for their well-deserved appointments.

Our distinguished stakeholders may wish to note that an interactive session has been organized as part of today’s occasion. The aim is to stress the necessity of involving the stakeholders in our efforts to restructure, revamp and refocus our educational system for better performance. The need to sensitize all and sundry to identify and play their respective roles in the education enterprise has also been recognized in tandem with the universal slogan of education for all, is the responsibility of all.

There is no doubt that the reconstituted Universal Basic Education Board will be confronted with the challenge of the new national policy on education and the implementation of our strategic framework for education reform in the State.

In the discharge of this enormous responsibility, you cannot but seek the cooperation and maintain cordial relationship with the Universal Basic Education Commission, Local Government Councils, Development Partners, the Teachers, Traditional Rulers, Parent Teachers Associations, religious bodies and the host communities.

I charge you to exhibit the highest sense of responsibility, transparency and accountability at all times.

Ladies and gentlemen, as you are all aware, education is one of the 13-point agenda of this Administration. Let me therefore restate our commitment to educational development in the State. Towards this end, and prior to the establishment of the Reform Committee, sustained efforts had been made to salvage the sector. Measures taken in this direction include the following:

1) Clearing of the backlog of N1.8billion counterpart fund to the Universal Basic Education Commission for the period 2005 to 2007;

2) Settlement of inherited contractual liabilities in the education sector worth over N2.5billion;

3) Construction of classrooms and provision of equipment and instructional materials at the total cost of N225million;

4) Purchase of additional 100,000 collapsible chairs and tables;

5) Payment of WAEC registration fees for our students totaling N172million;

6) Payment of backlog of scholarship allowances for the period 2004 -2007 to students of Nasarawa State origin in various tertiary institutions in the country totaling N280million;

7) Restoration of overseas scholarship for specialized training and payment of allowances - N205million.

8) Recruitment of 1,600 teachers for both primary and post-primary institutions;

9) Promotion of 1,900 primary school teachers;

10) Training of 2,500 primary school teachers;

11) Implementation of the new salary structures and enhancement of funding in tertiary and allied institutions.

All these efforts notwithstanding, arrangements have now been concluded for the award of new contracts for the construction and equipping of more classrooms across the state, as well as staff development, at a total cost of N3billion.

These contracts will involve:

Construction of 924 primary school classrooms at the sum of N1.9billion

Supply of textbooks and instructional materials at the sum of N448million

Supply of equipment at the sum of N277million

In addition, arrangements have been completed for continuing education and in-service training for teachers at the cost of N450million.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me conclude this address by emphasizing the significance of the interactive session that forms the second part of this ceremony. I am informed that eminent and renowned professionals and stakeholders have been invited to present papers on topical issues in education. I urge you all to take full advantage of this opportunity.

It is my hope and indeed my expectation that the discussions that will follow would explore areas of partnership, funding, infrastructural development and community participation in education. I trust that you will all contribute your quota by way of comments, suggestions and commitments to make the interactive session the success that it must be.

On this note, it is now my pleasure to:

i. inaugurate the Board of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education; and,

ii. to declare the interactive session, open.

Thank you and God bless.