Some Nigerian students and lecturers in the U.S have called on individuals and governments at different levels to invest more in the development of education in Nigeria.
They gave the advice while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria on the sideline of the Foreign Press Centre International Reporting Tour of the U.S. Community Colleges and Workforce Development programme in Washington D.C.
The programme was organised by the Foreign Press Centre, Bureau of Public Affairs, US Department of State to provide foreign journalists with information on opportunities available to foreign students in community colleges in US.
Dean School of Education, Business, and Human Services, Gallaudet University, Washington, Professor Khadijat Rashid said there was need for the government to increase investment in education in Nigeria.
Rashid, deaf and dumb and expert in sign language, spoke to NAN through an interpreter.
“The Nigerian government needs to invest more in education, no question about it.
“Education is already one of the largest expenditure items in the budget, but more needs to be done especially at the primary and secondary levels.
“So I was happy to see that in the recent budget, Universal Basic Education got a boost.
“I hope the government will continue to increase funds toward that so that all Nigerians are guaranteed at least 12 years of education within the next decade.
“This needs to also include people with disabilities: funding for schools for the deaf, blind, and other disabilities should be assured so that people with disabilities can also become productive, gainful, tax-paying members of society,” she said
The vice president of student affairs, Santa Fe College, Gainesville, Florida, Dr Bea Awoniyi, said government and individuals need to do more in developing education in Nigeria.
“Nigerian government is doing a lot but not enough, I don’t think we put enough emphasis on the equipment and what the students need; emphasis should be on the library and other infrastructure.
“Community members invest in infrastructure development of a college in the U.S.; they could donate buildings, laboratories, libraries or other infrastructures,” she said.
People who have the means in the U.S., she said, value education and they invest in it for the development of their communities.
“I don’t think we are there yet in Nigeria, I think we really need to get to a stage where we can donate to make things happen.
“If we get to a school and we see that they don’t have enough infrastructure individuals can donate to enhance the educational development,” she said.
The don said there is room for improvement stressing that Nigerian education can grow to be like that of the U.S.
A Nigerian student in Valencia College Orlando Florida, Miss Anuoluwapo Jahara, also called for more investment in education by both government and individuals.
“ The first thing that I will say is that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow and that leadership should know the importance of investing in the youth for the development of the country.
“Nigeria is a rich country, we have people that are rich that can move the country forward and could be of help to assist in education development especially in building and infrastructure, she said.
