The Unity School Old Students Association (USOSA) marked its 40th Plenary and Annual General Meeting on Saturday, calling on the Federal Government to enhance funding for the nation’s basic education sector. The event, held in Abuja, attracted representatives from the Ministry of Education, including Professor Tahir Mamman and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, along with other dignitaries like Mrs Didi Also-Jack, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
Addressing the gathering, USOSA’s President General, Michael Magaji, emphasized the critical need to prioritize funding for basic education, considering its pivotal role in national development. He commended the Nigerian Government’s early recognition of gender mainstreaming as a key element for public education and national progress, urging continued support for an inclusive environment where all Nigerians can thrive.
Magaji expressed gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Education for their collaboration and appealed to President Bola Tinubu to prioritize funding for basic and secondary education in the national development agenda.
The keynote speaker, Mr Paul Onwuanibe, CEO of Landmark Group, shared insights into the impact of his educational experience at Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos, highlighting how it positively shaped his life. He emphasized the crucial role of associations like USOSA in shaping the future of the next generation and urged members to leverage key principles for success in various facets of life.
In her remarks, Itoro Clement-Isong, the National President of the Federal Government Girls College Old Girls’ Association (FGGCOGA), Abuloma, Rivers State, expressed concern over the decline in standards at unity schools and attributed it partly to the prevailing insecurity challenges in the country. She underscored the need to address insecurity for parents to feel confident sending their children to schools farther from home, reviving the essence of unity schools as a platform for diverse educational experiences.
The event, themed ‘The journey to nationhood – 50 years Unity Schools,’ provided a platform for reflection on the past and discussions on the future of education in Nigeria.
