The former minister of Aviation and corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Chief Osita Chidoka has urged private individuals, especially the alumnus to invest in public education with a view to improving the quality and providing more workforce for the country.
Chidoka made the call on Saturday during the 20th anniversary celebration of Integrity Class, the 2004 set alumnus association of Federal Government College, Nise, Awka South Local Government Area (LGA), Anambra State.
The former FRSC boss, who was a guest lecturer at the event held in Awka, observed that state of infrastructure in public schools across the country was constantly decaying due to poor funding even as quality teachers and experienced administrators travel overseas in search of better welfare packages.
This according to him, also make the elite to secede the country with their children studying either in private schools in Nigeria or across the border where there living conditions would equally be better taken care of.
According to him, if nothing was done to address the low standard of education in the country it would be difficult to produce dedicated and experienced personnel with our shared values to man the public offices because elites children would not return to handle them.
“If our leaders are to train their children in the public schools, they would make them work. We must invest in public education because it is where the future of public services will come from. Students trained at private schools will not return to work in public sectors. We must be deliberate of funding public schools to train our future workforce and those we can export,” he added.
To address the anomaly, Chidoka enjoined the alumnus to reach out to their alma mater primary, secondary or tertiary institutions with a view to finding out their needs, engage in providing and equipping their infrastructures such as laboratories, stadia, classrooms, among others, for effective teaching and learning.
He also urged them to build the teachers capacity through training, reward the hardworking among them incentives and recognitions, as well as provide scholarships, tutorials and mentorship to current students on-site or remotely.
Also speaking, another guest speaker and Director General, Onitsha Business School, Professor Olusegun Sogbesan urged alumnus to build a network that would position them for excellence and catalyst for socioeconomic development.
According to Sogbesan, to build a formidable network for self development, business growth and overall wellness required contacts and connections through maintaining cordial and working relationships with classmates, teachers, friends, associates and partners.
In a goodwill message, the Principal, Federal Government College, Nise, Dr Ijeoma Ekumankama, commended Integrity class for providing her school with various educational supports, which according to her, had gone a long way in positioning them as change makers.
Also speaking, the Integrity Class President, Dr Ekene Muokwelu explained that the alumni group was formed in 2014 as beacon of support, inspiration, friendship and reunion, with purpose of giving back to their school and society at large.
“Our years at FGC Nise taught us resilience, hard work and integrity, values that we espoused so much that it not only became our guiding principles but also the foundation of our alias-the Integrity group. It is remarkable to reflect on how these values, instilled in us by our teachers and maintained by us, have become central to our personal lives and this group.
“From the very beginning, we have always been determined to give back to the place that shaped us and our efforts were focused on initiatives that would resonate with current and future students. This spanned numerous projects including support and awards to students in recognition of academic excellence and other projects that would enhance students lives on the school grounds.
He further maintained that the class offer an annual academic excellence awards to outstanding students during the speech and prize giving day, built and donated a 3 in 1 sport complex to promote sports, donated towards creation of a memorial garden in the school, currently levelling and re-grassing the school field, among others.
Earlier, the Chairman of 20th anniversary Committee, Amb. Benjamin Ezeokafor, noted that the event brought them together, reminded them of formative days they shared, learning, growing and dreaming together.
“Today is about connection, laughter and rekindling the memories of a time that shaped who we are. Let us celebrate not only our achievements but also the friendship, shared experiences and the sense of belonging that the class of 2004 has given us. This celebration is not just about looking back but also about appreciating the growth we have achieved and looking forward to the years ahead,” he added.
The even featured award presentations to the guest speakers, the principal of the Alma mater, as well as gifts and other recognitions accorded to the school teachers
