Obaseki Celebrates Education Week, solicits sustainability of Education Reforms

 By Omoruyi Patricia Osayomore

Governor Obaseki has asked parents and other stakeholders in the Edo State Education Sector to contribute towards sustaining the State Education reforms during and after his administration.

The Governor made the call while declaring open, the maiden edition of the State Education Week which held Wednesday, 26th April, 2023, at the Sir Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City.

He expressed his excitement at the academic progress of the pupils which according to him, his administration has committed huge investment since 2018. He asserted that the Edo pupils are very fortunate to experience the sterling leadership of the current Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe, adding that the legacy he wants to be remembered for is the overall education transformation and sustainability in the State.

In his words, “The Edo Education Week is put together to showcase the transformation in public education under the leadership of Dr. Joan Oviawe which has created opportunities for young people to acquire quality and functional education in consonance with the theme for the event – Education for Alaghodaro: Investing in Quality Education and Access for our Children and Youth; meaning progress and prosperity.

“The EdoBEST reformation which started in 2018 with a scheme of teacher quality; infrastructure; teaching quality and learning materials, is meant to give every Edo child a well-grounded education so that Edo in the next decade will not rely on allocations from the Federal Government to run its economy but such will be sustained by its educated populace as we also aim to make it the best place to live and do business by the year 2050.”

The Governor while acknowledging the World Bank’s contributions in sustaining the progress of education in the State, encouraged parents to sustain and improve participation in their children’s education advancement including their roles in the EdoBEST at Home Lessons and the School O’ Clock Campaign.

While assuring his Administration’s continued commitment to quality and functional education, it was ascribed to the Governor that by September, 2023, every pupil will possess a tablet as tool to fully drive digital learning in the State.

Earlier in her welcome address, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, ascribed all the success stories of the State Education to the visionary leadership of the Governor. She expressed optimism that the event will afford the pupils the opportunity to appreciate and to explore their talents which ordinarily would have been undiscovered. 

Dr. Oviawe said the activities lined up for the events are beyond numeracy and literacy exercises. She emphasised that the creative arts are also included to make the average Edo pupil to be able to compete favourably with those in the most developed societies.

The keynote Speaker, Lebon Marshall, posited that the African children are the future of not just Africa but the entire world because the major population of other continents are growing old but that Africa has the young people as most of its population. She argued that as a result of their importance, the world is contesting for space in the brains of the young people because they have the potential to change the world.

Marshall admonished the young people to order their priorities beginning from information which they choose to access, which according to her, shapes their influences. She guided that the young people should watch out for who is true or not; those manipulating others; amongst others and counselled that any influence or authority that would deny them such rights to information must be resisted.

The event featured among others, debate competitions by pupils of selected Basic and Secondary schools in the State; dance performance; discussions and  had in attendance, members of the State Executive Council, World Bank representatives, principals from the State Education Eco-system, parents, and stakeholders both from Nigeria and across national borders.