By Felix Khanoba
The Unity School Old Students Association (USOSA) on Saturday held its 40th Plenary and Annual General Meeting in a grand style, with a call on Federal Government to improve funding for the nation’s basic education sector.
The event, which witnessed representatives of Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, was also graced by the Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mrs Didi Also-Jack, among other dignitaries.
Speaking at the colourful event that attracted old students of Federal Government Colleges from across the country to Abuja, President General of USOSA, Michael Magaji, harped on the need to make basic education funding a top priority for national development.
He said : “It is remarkable to note that long before the United Nations started its SDG programmes, the Nigerian Government understood the importance of mainstreaming gender as a key element and tool for public education and national development.
“This is instructive and highly commendable.Our country is still a work in progress with challenges in managing and accepting our diversity. USOSANS however remains the true children of Nigeria.
“We stand and believe in one Nigeria for all and with all.
“We call on our governments to embrace and promote this spirit and provide an inclusive playing field where all Nigerians irrespective of background can thrive and feel a true sense of Nigerians.
“We thank the Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies for actively listening and collaborating with us in our march towards improved public education.
“Let me also call on President Bola Tinubu to make basic and secondary education funding a priority for national development.”
In a keynote address at the well attended event which had its theme as : ‘The journey to nationhood-50 years Unity Schools’, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Landmark Group, Mr Paul Onwuanibe, said that an association like USOSA had a role in building the future of the next generation.
Onwuanibe, who went down memory lane on how his educational sojourn at Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, reshaped his life positively, said most of his business contacts today were people he knew from Unity School.
The renowned businessman, who tagged his presentation as ‘Building A Legacy of Leadership,’ listed some of the key principles that are key in ensuring success in every facets of life.
He, therefore, challenged the association’s members to leverage on the principles and also stand for what was right to give education a facelift in the country.
Also speaking, the National President, Federal Government Girls College Old Girls’ Association (FGGCOGA), Abuloma, Rivers State, Itoro Clement-Isong, lamented that the essence of establishing unity schools had been lost due to insecurity challenges across the country.
“ I think, first and foremost, apart from the fact that the unity school standards have dropped from what it used to be, it’s also the present situation of the country’s insecurity that as a parent, you’re less likely to send your child far from home.
“This is because you’re wondering, can I control the things that will happen to the child? Unlike before, your father will drop you at the motor pack, you’re off.
“Today, because of the insecurity in the country, children tend to school closer.
“When we solve insecurity challenges in Nigeria, I think you’ll find students moving across states for studies because it’s actually a very pleasant idea,” she added.
