By Tope Musowo Lagos
Organisers of the West Africa School Awards (WASA) have charged private school owners in Nigeria to make as priority eff orts towards promoting quality education in the country. Speaking at the 2017 award ceremony held in Lagos in recognition of some schools which distinguished themselves in the promotion of good education, a member of the organising committee, Mr. Desmond Esorogbe, said the event was to celebrate quality education in West Africa, which he averred would bring about a better society. “We are trying to celebrate quality education in West Africa and of course quality education is what brings a better society. Any society that pays maximum attention to education will grow and prosper in all forms.
“Th e essence of the programme is to let people know that quality education actually can bring social changes in West Africa as a focus for this year. Nigeria is the host of this event this year and is the focus of this year’s West Africa education awards”, he added. While noting that education development in Nigeria is very slow following challenges being faced by the government, Esorogbe said adequate attention must be paid to the education sector by allocation of large budget to it. One of the recipients of the awards, Mrs. Jummy O’Peters, an administrator, Caleb Business School, Lagos, who represented the institute, commended the organisers for putting together the awards.
“I want to say the award is a beautiful one and you know periodically is always good to recognise eff orts so that people will be encouraged to do better. Schools that think they are hidden will now be motivated to do better to maintain the standard and quality.” Reacting to fears trailing reform on Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) she said “in any nation without Christ, there is crisis because he fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. “What Nigeria is facing now is not because our leaders are not intelligent; what is lacking is the fear of God and once we don’t inculcate that in our children there will be problem. If we take education from the beginning and inculcate the fear of God we will have peace. If Nigeria wants stability in all ramifi cations we need CRK,” she concluded. Highlight of the event was exhibition on quality education, which showcased schools and organisations with quality management in all its forms and aspirations.
