By Patrick Ochei
The Centre for Education Development and Skills Acquisition (CEDESA) has hosted an education summit in Asaba, with Stakeholders insisting on the development and transformation of the Education sector in order to achieve wholesome progress in the country.
The one day Education Stakeholders Summit which was hosted by the Centre for Education Development and Skills Acquisition (CEDESA), Thursday 17th February, 2022 at Ajuya Hotel, Asaba, had renowned professionals from various fields of endeavour who did justice to the challenges of Education in the country and proffered needed solutions to the sector.
The theme of the Summit was “Change Makers for Education Transformation and Development”, and it was a follow-up to the UNESCO’s 2022 International Day for Education with the Theme ” Changing Course, Transforming Education”.
The Host, Mrs. Ronke Ugbe who is the Chief Executive Officer of CEDESA, noted during her speech that “we are in an era of serious Education crisis in Nigeria and a stakeholders conversation can not be over emphasized”.
Meanwhile, high profile personalities who attended the event took turns to harp on the need for all hands to be on deck for the transformation of the Education sector, maintaining that revamping the Education sector should be a collective responsibility.
The Director General of Delta State Orientation Bureau, Barr. Eugene Azuka Uzum who was a Special Guest, appreciated the organizers for the timeliness of the summit, encouraged the students to look beyond immediate distractions and focus on the real goals of life, which fundamentally is Education.
He also enjoined parents to take responsibility for their children’s education and ensure they give birth to the number of children they can afford to train.
The Delta State Chairperson of the Stand-Up for Women Society and Functioning Permanent Secretary of Delta State Orientation Bureau, Mrs. Stella Macaulay who was the Guest Speaker at the event, spoke on the roles of parents in Education Transformation and Development.
She identified in her teaching that parents are the first agents of socialization and as such very critical to the Education of their children.
Another Speaker who spoke on the role of NGOs, CSOs, Community Associations, Government and other stakeholders is Amb. Ugagaoghene Ogheneyole, the Director General of Revive Africa Initiative. He implored the civil society organisations to brace up to the challenge of the moment and add their voices and energies towards strengthening the policy thrust of government in transforming the Education system of the country.
During the questions and answers, the guest teachers and parents spoke extensively on the missing links in the upbringing of children nowadays.
The students also pointed out their challenges and prevailing issues affecting them as students, while equally pledging commitments towards becoming more attentive and obedient to lessons of morals and values.
The summit collectively agreed that there is a need for another expanded stakeholders engagement on same subject to enable greater consciousness that will snowball into practical actions and all stakeholders present agreed to partner with CEDESA to host the next Education Stakeholders Summit towards Education Transformation.
At the end of the event, the Convener, Mrs. Ronke Ugbe and one of the speakers, Amb. Ugagaoghene Ogheneyole were hosted on The Meeting Point, a live TV Show to discuss the topic, “Socioeconomic Rebranding of Nigeria: Education To The Rescue”.