Govt must fund education to ensure development –Amaechi

Rivers State Gov­ernor, Chibuike Amaechi has ex­pressed the need for government to im­prove on funding of the education sector to achieve greater productivity and raise an educated and en­lightened citizenry.

Amaechi stated this at the 18th – 20th convocation cer­emony of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori at the week­end.

He said: “Our country, Ni­geria must have the capacity to create the human capital needed for economic devel­opment. There are serious concerns that our higher insti­tutions of learning at all levels are producing graduates not fit for purpose. In other words, our children are leaving school without the knowledge to sustain them or contribute to the development of the na­tional economy.”

Amaechi described edu­cation as a focal point of development, saying his ad­ministration had made huge investments in the sector since 2007 because of its impor­tance.

“Early in the life of this administration, we declared a state of emergency in the education sector to make Riv­ers State the hub of education, not only in Nigeria, but also in sub-Sahara Africa. Our com­mitment is to improve services and the quality of education and make it more relevant to productive activities, includ­ing value re-orientation, em­ployment and wealth creation. We shall continue to pursue that dream vigorously and also confront the challenges be­devilling the education sector. Even as we strive to revitalise the sector, I am delighted to say that our efforts are bearing fruitful results. The naming of Port Harcourt as the World Book Capital 2014 earlier in the year and other achieve­ments gave eloquent testimo­ny of the recognition. It is an unprecedented achievement as we put Rivers State and Nige­ria in the global map,” he said.

The governor expressed commitment to continue fund­ing education in the state to prevent the youths from re­sorting to crime and other so­cial vices.

“We have made tremen­dous efforts to replace the guns that were in the hands of our misguided and unin­formed youths, thus providing them with windows of oppor­tunities and endless possibili­ties,” he said.

Meanwhile, Amaechi has warned against indiscipline among lecturers, other staff and students. He also warned against criminal activities, cultism and examination malpractices, mandating the Rector of the polytechnic, Sir Obianko Nwolu-Elechi, to dismiss and expel erring lec­turers and students from the institution to serve as a deter­rent to others.

His words: “Government will not condone indiscipline and criminal activities among staff and students. I will en­sure that the full weight of the law is brought to bear on such cases, particularly cultism and examination malpractices.”

He told the rector: “Dis­cipline the lecturers and the rest will stop. If you dismiss the lecturers and expel the students, others will learn. The rector should not tell me another day that he is over­whelmed. There is no special lecturer or friend of the gov­ernor.”

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