By Olaleke ASHAFA
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, on Thursday called on relevant stakeholders to synergise in surmounting the myriads of challenges facing the nation’s education sector.
Adamu made the call on Thursday in his key note address at the 32nd Convocation of the Yaba College of Technology, held in Lagos .
Speaking through Prof. Anthony Auwuka, the Minister of State for Education, Adamu said that partnership between the private sector and the academic institutions was critical to efforts at addressing the challenges.
“There are no challenges in the sector that are insurmountable. All stakeholders must work together to surmount the myriads of challenges facing the education sector,” he said.
Adamu said that the Federal Government had shifted emphasis to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in response to the nation’s economic realities beside its being a catalyst for national economic development.
According to him, acquisition of appropriate skills and development for the individual to live and contribute to the development of the society is the thrust of the national policy on education.
The minister said that the policy thrust should guide the education sector in delivering on its mandate.
“It is in consonance with this thrust that I urge all stakeholders to ensure that the vision behind the thrust is actualised,” he said.
Adamu commended the management on the sustenance of both physical and infrastructure development, as well as prudence in the management of resources.
He said that government would continue to emphasise transparency, accountability and good governance in higher institutions, while giving the necessary support needed for tertiary institutions to be among the top ranking ones globally.
“There is no gainsaying that education is key in the development of any nation.
“Government will, therefore, not rest on its oars without repositioning education and giving it desired priority for the attainment of the much desired national development.
“To achieve this, government had and will continue to invest on education through its various intervention projects by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), PTDF and others.
“I, therefore, urge you to utilise these opportunities to their fullest.
“If we must close ranks with advanced countries, all stakeholders must work together to surmount the myriads of challenges facing the education sector.
“The private sector must partner with the government to improve the standard and quality of education in the country,” he added.
In his remarks, Mr Obafemi Omokungbe, the Rector of the institution, said that 132 graduating students had distinctions in the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma, Full-time and Part-time in the 2016/ 2017 academic session.
Omokugbe said that 7,170 students successfully completed their academic programme.
Giving the breakdown, the rector said at the HND level, 97 students bagged distinction, 875 made Upper Credit, while 1,322 got Lower Credit and 275 had Pass.
“In the part-time programme, 16 students emerge with distinction, 458 with Upper Credit, 368 with Lower Credit and 34 Pass.
“The figure at the National Diploma, Full-time/Part-time include 160 students made distinction, 1,467 graduating with Upper Credit, 2,729 with Lower Credit and 1,179 Pass grade.
Solomon Adenugba of the School of Management and Business Studies emerged the overall best students at HND level, while Miss Mojisola Akinde won the overall best in the ND category.
The Executive Secretary of TETfund, Dr Abdullahi Baffa, Mr Abubakar Isa and Mr Paul Gbedebo, the Managing Director, Flour Mills PLC, received honorary award of Fellowship of the college for their contributions to the education sector.
