Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu has called for the democratisation of the African Union and more involvement of the legislative arm in the budgeting process in the continental body.
Kalu also advocated for a special fund targeted at funding education on the African continent, while also detailing strategies adopted by the Nigerian government to improve education in the country.
The Deputy Speaker was speaking at the ongoing 3rd Ordinary Session of the 6th Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament in Johannesburg, South Africa after being inducted as a member of the continental body.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, said Kalu outlined some of the measures to include increased funding for schools, scholarships and the passage of the students loan scheme bill, which has since been assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said: “Permit me to reflect briefly on our experience in Nigeria. It is remarkable to note that this theme aligns quite substantively to the legislative priorities established under our leadership at the Nigeria House of Representatives and more fervently with President Bola Ahmed Tnubu’s focus on prioritising education as a major catalyst to economic development.
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“This involves increased funding for schools, scholarships, and initiatives like free school meals. This commitment has also informed the initiation and passage of the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act in 2023 and its ensuing operationalisation earlier this year after being assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The purpose of this act is to create seamless access to credit facilities for quality higher education, ensuring that all Nigerian students have the opportunity to achieve their academic potential regardless of their financial background.
“I also want to share our experience from Nigeria regarding strengthening infrastructure, ensuring educational continuity during crises, and leveraging technology for remote learning. Nigerian regulators in the public education sector are paving the way with innovative licenses that power the next level of innovation from its vibrant edutech industry.
“A prime example is the MIVA Open University, which received an Open Distance eLearning Licence from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to operate online classes.”
In addition to the efforts, Kalu also said that Nigeria is championing lifelong learning opportunities through initiatives like vocational training and adult literacy programmes.
The Deputy Speaker also mulled the creation of a dedicated fund to assist various continents to achieve their education needs.
While emphasising the need for proper democratisation of the African Union, the Deputy Speaker called for the input of the legislative arm in the union’s budget process.
“My office, the Office of the Deputy Speaker in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, has already sponsored draft legislation that institutionalises a national apprenticeship scheme for the country and has passed the second reading. This demonstrates our commitment to equipping our citizens with the skills necessary for a dynamic and evolving economy.
“We must also focus on the education of people with physical disabilities, ensuring that our educational systems are inclusive and accessible to all. Furthermore, it is crucial that we insist on utilizing an African model of learning to pass knowledge.
“Our knowledge acquisition model should be tailored to suit the African dynamics, ensuring that our educational methods are relevant and effective in our unique continent. With all of these in mind, we must advocate for a specific target percentage of national budgets dedicated to education.”