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Tag: rural

  • Jigawa governor prioritises rural transformation

    Jigawa governor prioritises rural transformation

    The recent visit of African Development Bank (AfDB) officials was another milestone of Governor Badaru Abubakar to tap from the huge resources available at such development institutions as AfDB.  The visit which was at the instance of Governor Abubakar formed part of a broad strategy of building synergy with institutions to pursue the economic diversification promised by his administration.

    During the visit AfDB Country Director, Dr Ousmane Dore who led the team of African Development Bank officials to Government House Dutse, disclosed that their visit was hinged on the desire for the bank to support the new administration to achieve its vision for the state. He said current revenue shortfall occasioned by the dwindling oil revenues from the federation account neccessitated the bank’s readiness to partner Jigawa on strengthening its public finance to boost IGR and reduce over dependence on oil revenues.

    The Director, added it is the bank desire to assist in making Jigawa state economically viable, Dore said, the bank had already begins investing over 2.6 USD on feasibility study under African Water Facility for the Construction of Multi- purpose Dam along Hadejia-Komodougu-Yobe basin that would boost irrigation and electricity generation adding that the total cost of the project is $200m with 2016 completion period.

    He said AfDB also introduced Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme on rice and sorghum production along Hadejia axis that would provide jobs, food security, rural access and infrastructural development for the rural dwellers.

    Under the programme, according to him, the bank would undertake the rehabilitation of  agricultural and ancillary social infrastructure which include rehabilitation of 195km irrigation and water conveyance canals,105 Hydraulic structures 250km of feeder roads, rehabilitation and equipping, Five primary schools, two health centre and Two community markets. Others were provision of nine boreholes and accessories, community sensitization on good nutrition and hygiene practices to reduce child morbidity and mortality, establishment of one demonstration and technology centre, provision of a tractor, Harrow Tine Cultivator, Trailer Boom Sprayer, Pneumatic Planters, power tillers and combined harvester.

    Dore said, the project’s benefits are to encourage all-year round farming, community Development, youth, women and vulnerable training programme under International Institute for Tropical Agriculture  (IITA)’s  outreach programme geared towards making the self- reliant.  The country director maintained that an estimated 45,000 farmers and Rural Entrepreneurs, 200,000 rural youth including existing or potential small, medium and large-scale entrepreneurs, business associates who provided services to rural households would be in business all year round.

    He said the twin programmes under Agricultural transformation programme i.e commodity value chain on Rice and sorghum and Community development programme and infrastructural development, would cost the bank an estimated sum of N2bn which would be  co-financed by Jigawa State and the Bank with the state releasing N43.4 million in the first year. It would also undertake the input support on fertilizers, provision of agro-chemicals, office space and vehicle for the project as well as recruitment of zonal project staff.

    Governor Muhammedd Badaru was explicit, apt and coherent in response to barrage of proposals offered to him by AfDB officials. He told the AfDB officials to specifically assist him in developing agriculture and agric value chain in Jigawa State. He also asked the Bank to support skills acquisition for women, youth and vulnerable groups. Other request of the governor was the training of school teachers and health personnel that would man his proposed policy of establishing a Health Center in the state’s more than 270 wards.

    The governor explained that he was worried by the state of the nation’s Economy. He said:  “Coming from private sector, we see the need to work closely, considering the situation we are in Nigeria. What has been happening today cannot continue, we have to develop an economy for the state that is subsistent; we have to develop businesses that would take care of the state”

    “In most states in Nigeria as you are aware, we are majorly relying on Federal Grants except probably Lagos, Ogun, River and some few states and that is what we intend to change”

    For Governor Badaru, the AfDB visit came at a better time and the state stands ready to discuss options available and where the bank could support the state to achieve its vision.  The governor told AfDB officials that “For years we have looked inward on the best we can do. We have discussed with friends, colleagues, and consultants, we always come back to the issue of Agriculture because, that is only need we have for now. That is our only strength, that, if well developed, we can have a competitive advantage and sustainability needed. For these reason, this administration is focused on human Development, and job creation through agric and agro value chain, that is what we have comparative advantage doing”

    Governor Badaru noted the challenges of skills acquisition centre in Jigawa State which according to him was not made on the market-demand realities. Thus, make it difficult for the trainees to operate in a highly competitive environment. He however pointing out that, his administration had sponsored a survey with the help of DFID- GEMS-3 to identify businesses that favorably accommodate the trainees so government can focus its attention on, saying that, henceforth skills acquisition programmes would be demand-based.

    With this helping hand from AfDB, it is evident that Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar’s momentum for the new Jigawa State has started yielding results.  The vigor with which he is pursuing the change he promised the people of Jigawa state is unprecedented. As such, there is no gainsaying the promise ‘change’ is just day away to fulfillment. What is needed for the people to continue supporting the government and a little patience since it is said nothing good comes easy.

    • Suleiman is an Editorial, ICT & Media Relations officer, Government House, Dutse

     

  • Promoting rural enterprises

    Promoting rural enterprises

    The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Nigeria is offering those in agro business technical training to process their produce and make a living. The support is aimed at creating jobs and business opportunities for residents where such businesses are located, reports DANIEL ESSIET.

    The past decade has been challenging for young people and farmers seeking to start agro business. But the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Nigeria supported projects are improving farming techniques, increasing access to processing  machines  and reviving the commodities sector. All of these have helped villagers and young people rebuild their lives and pursue a more prosperous future.

    An example is  Abia State  where  communities are working with WAAPP Nigeria to  form groups and determine their own business  needs.

    •Kalu
    •Kalu

    According  to  the  Chairman, Cassava Value Chain Innovation Platform, Abia State, Kalu Iche Kalu, small agro business owners are learning important skills to manage hectares of  farmland involving  cassava production  that has expanded to meet rapidly, rising demand for  livestock feeds, starch, chips and garri.

    In Abia State, he said,  cassava business  is booming and is linked  to increasing local processing of the crop into wet and dry starch, which is  transformed into higher value food and industrial products – from noodles, glucose, and maltose to textiles, pharmaceuticals, among  others.

    According to Kalu, a lot of investors are  making  money through wet starch extraction.

    He said small-scale operators handle one to 10 tonnes of roots daily, while there are  medium-sized processors handling   10 to 100 tonnes.

    He said several   new cassava varieties have come from collaborative breeding efforts supported by WAAPP and   improved varieties resulting from such works have doubled average crop yields.

    Kalu said the impact is great, yielding enormous returns for agro businesses

    Consequently, he said,  cassava is one of the most dynamic sub sectors in the  state, helping to drive industrial development while delivering higher incomes to investors.

    To boost more activities, he  said,  the platform also engaged farmers, processors, and investors through meetings to scale out successful technologies and practices.

    Villagers, according to him, are coming from various zones for the  platform to train them as  they see  bigger fruits and harvests.

    Small scale cassava producers working with the platforms, he  said, are proud of having helped to transform the value chain, making it inclusive and efficient.

    Under the WAAPP Nigeria Programme,  the mandate, he said, is root and tuber, specifically yam and cassava. The platforms are in nine states and have given small holder farmers support on farm inputs such as fertiliser and the top five cassava varieties, including the pro-vitamin A  umu-cass 36,37 and 38.

    Under the WAAPP assisted project,  he said the  target in the first phase is to reach out to 300,000 farmers, which they have reached  167,000.  “This year we are providing seven processing centres across seven states  of which two of these processing centres are almost completed.  Our target is to complete these processing centers before the end of May next year.

    The processing centres are at Umuaka Okigwe, Imo State and Bende in Abia State.”

    The  programme is to transform subsistence farmers into commercial farmers, promote investment in the cassava processing industries and develop the capacity of local governments to drive economic development.

    WAAPP Nigeria National Coordinator, Prof  Damian Chikwendu,  said  the  idea behind the innovative  platforms  is  to  support  small-scale operations to manufacture products, which  are not very easy for budding entrepreneurs.

    Following the establishment of such groups, Chikwendu said local small scale farmers  now  have places to process products to be sold commercially.

    The equipment helps local producers to slice and dice large quantities of vegetables, blend ingredients, produce dry fruits and vegetables, process products in metal cans, pasteurise juices and perform other tasks.

    With the recent downturn in the economy coupled with the popularity of farmers’ markets and the concept of local foods, he said, many people are interested in developing food processing companies.

    With the support of WAAPP working  through  partners, he  said  a lot of  people  have been   helped to translate  their   food ideas into  finished  products.

    Products included veggie chips, sauce, and plantain and cassava chips.

    The plan of the programme, he said, is to help   diversify and develop the agribusiness sector, improve processing, mainly by providing training and grant support to set up drying tunnels. With  better  packaging, he  said  entrepreneurs  have not only   improved the products, but  helped  farmers  to  increase  shelf-life of products, reduce losses and improve access to the market.  The results in places such as Enugu and Abia have been startling.

    He said some successful entrepreneurs are building on their achievements to add more value to the fruit they produce.

     

  • Scholar lists reasons for rural underdevelopment

    Scholar lists reasons for rural underdevelopment

    Successive governments’ ineptitude, massive corruption, neglect of community participation and poor funding are responsible for the failure of past rural development programmes in Nigeria.

    Others are ineffective policy framework and lack of continuity in policy making due to changes in administration.

    Professor of Geography at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Raphael Olawepo, gave these reasons while delivering the institution’s 157th inaugural lecture in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.

    In the lecture entitled: “Learning from the people: A geographer’s mandate for sustainable rural development,” Olawepo said appropriate rural development could be achieved through collaborative planning, appropriate policies and structures, empowerment, continuity and sustainability.

    “In the 21st Century, a rural development programme that would be sustainable would put the people first and would not be the sole responsibility of government planning from top to down, but would be guided bottom up approaches which we find only in the use of participatory methodologies,” he said.

    The geographer canvassed for a national development plan that would be people-oriented.

    He said: “I am waiting for a blueprint of our national development plan that will have the bedrock of rural development and other development programmes entrenched in our constitution; a national development plan that will be devoid of politics, no matter which political party wins in an election.

    “When the blueprint remains a national development plan that would be strictly implemented continuously, then there will be no need for each party’s agenda, but the people’s national plan, and it is then that we can have continuity in regional development plans.”

    He recommended community development programmes that would be initiated by the people, and partly funded by them with the backing of the government and other agencies.

    “It has been acknowledged that one of the main sources of the crises in the rural sector is the absence of effective partnership and funding. I, therefore, suggest the backing of the World Bank assisted rural development programmes in all states. While the rural communities would choose programmes for themselves, contribute their 10 per cent funding, the remaining 90 per cent would be borne by the state and federal governments as counterpart funding,” he said.

  • Rural dwellers laud UNICEF intervention in Cross River

    Rural dwellers laud UNICEF intervention in Cross River

    Rural dwellers of remote communities in Cross River State have expressed gratitude to the United Nations Children’s Fund for its intervention, especially in providing water and promoting good health among them.

    Some of them who our reporter spoke with in some local government areas visited said the succor and relief brought by the fund through its programmes especially on women and children had impacted their lives tremendously.

    UNICEF has over the years been collaborating with the state government on several programmes, which among others include water, sanitation and maternal newborn and child health week.

    A mother of two from Okpoma community in Yala local government area in the northern axis of the state, Mrs. Augusta Arikwu, who was grateful for the free healthcare she had gotten throughout the period of pregnancy and even after delivery hoped that UNICEF would continue its programmes in their community.

    “I am praying that UNICEF should not withdraw from assisting the country as it is being rumoured. I am a beneficiary of all their programmes. Be it water or the maternal newborn child exercise,” she said.

    Mrs. Arikwu also commended the state government for partnering with the international agency and urged it to continue, as all its programmes are very important to the well being of the women and children.

    “UNICEF water projects are scattered in many communities in Yala today courtesy of the state government collaboration. Before now we usually trek long distances to look for water from the stream for our domestic use,” she said.

    Also in the same community, Mrs. Elizabeth Onah, a mother of four was full of praises to both UNICEF and the state government under the leadership of Governor Liyel Imoke for attracting the kinds of programme they got.

    “We never had it so good before. Today I do not stress myself before getting water to drink or for other domestic purposes. The free medical care to mothers and their newborn babies is a gift from God. I commend the annual maternal newborn and child week which is always observed in all the local government areas of the state. A lot of health related issues were taught to women during the marking of the week. Newborn babies were also immunized during this period,” she said.

    Also, in Akpabuyo local government, the stories were the same as the people expressed gratitude to UNICEF and the state government.

    Madam Affiong Okon from Ikot Nakanda said the entire community where she comes from had been lacking potable drinking water for years until the coming of UNICEF assisted water programme.

    She said: “We were reluctant in accepting the drilling of the borehole because of the stereotype attitude of contractors. They will start a project and halfway, it will be abandoned.

    “Today I can tell you that the UNICEF borehole has being of tremendous assistance to the entire community. The water runs for 24 hours and it has been a blessing to us.”

     

  • Int’l Women’s Day 2015: IFAD-RUFIN empowers rural women for better livelihood

    Int’l Women’s Day 2015: IFAD-RUFIN empowers rural women for better livelihood

    All around the world, March 8 recognised as International Women’s Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.  “Make It Happen” is the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day celebration and this is very apt to encourage effective action for empowering and recognising women in all spheres of endeavours.

    Rural women make significant contributions to their local economies, and to global trade, as smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs and labourers. They are responsible for producing and processing food, and feeding and caring for family members ? particularly children and the elderly. They also generate income and contribute to the overall well-being of their households.

    However, in many countries, rural women continue to face discrimination in access to agricultural assets, education, health, employment and other services. Such obstacles prevent them from fully enjoying their fundamental rights and opportunities for growth. Studies have shown that rural women form the backbone of the agricultural labour force across much of the developing world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), increasing productivity on female-headed farms by 20 to 30 percent would raise national productivity by 2.5 to 4 percent in developing countries, which, in turn, could end chronic hunger for as many as 100 to 150 million people.

    To address the many challenges that rural women face, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Federal Government of Nigeria financed Rural Finance Institution building project (RUFIN) is working to empower women through linkages to financial institutions to access credit to start up or expand their enterprises as well as capacity building. These trainings focused on skills acquisition, business plans, financial literacy, new technologies among others. In RUFIN interventions, women are mainstreamedto participate actively in trainings, group formations and linkages to financial institutions to improve their income generation.

    Success stories from RUFIN focal states indicate that tremendous changes have been recorded with womenleveraging on their savings and /or earnings for increased productivity, contributing to higher incomes and ultimate wellbeing of the women and their households.

    For example, women who were trained on the use of Gender Action Learning Systems methodology to develop business plans and market analysis showed to have gained more respect from men who have seen that power shift will also encourage the women to do more.

    Even though women development varies from community to community, the small changes recorded have made impact on their social status. Their morale have been boosted and most men feel comfortable in allowing their women to contribute financially to meet the household responsibilities.

    RUFIN is using the Village Savings and Credit Groups (VSCGs) model to improve internal savings and lending practice among women group in its focal states. Since the inception of the RUFIN programme in 2010, a total of N22,223,830.00 million have been mobilised by women alone through internal saving culture which is highly promoted by RUFIN and N18,445,558.00 as internal credits in the women groups.

    Among RUFIN mentored groups is Ifesowapo Women group in Epe, Lagos state. The group is into fish farming, vegetable farming, piggery as their source of livelihood. These women were financial excluded as they had no micro-finance institution in their area. According to them before the intervention of RUFIN programme, they used to hire canoes and other fishing equipment for their business and were recording low returns on their investment but through the training on financial literacy and linkage to financial institution, the group have been able to access credit to grow their business and as a result their income and general livelihood have improved.

    This year, the international community is commemorating the 20th anniversary of the landmark Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in September 1995. International Women’s Day 2015, observed on 8 March, is therefore a special occasion to celebrate achievements made since Beijing and to take action on meeting the remaining challenges to women’s empowerment and gender equality.

     

  • Why rural communities must be protected

    Why rural communities must be protected

    Participants at a conference organised by Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have urged the government to check environmental degradation in rural areas. OLADELE OGE reports.

    CITIES should not be protected from environmental degradation at the expense of rural areas, participants  at a three-day conference organised by Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) have said.

    The event with the theme: Industry, agriculture and environmental sustainability: The role of environmental toxicology and chemistry research in Africa took place at the institution’s Princess Alexandra Hall.

    The guest speaker, Prof Ikechukwu Onwurah, urged the Federal Government to upgrade rural environmental protection, because degradation poses risk to communities. He said government must check the role being played by corporate bodies in environmental degradation, urging it to promulgate laws to control the negative effects.

    Prof Onwurah, who delivered a paper titled: Sustainable Environmental compliance monitoring (ECM) framework: The role of government, highlighted the importance of the conference to the nation’s wellbeing, saying a friendly environment would reduce risk of natural disaster and disease outbreak.

    He urged government at different levels not to relent in finding lasting solutions to communities’ environmental and ecological problems. He said they must fund academic researches aimed solving environmental challenges.

    While declaring the conference open, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, represented by his deputy on Academics, Prof Polycarp Chigbu, urged participants to ensure that their contributions were informed by research to make the outcome and recommendations a quality document useful to the government.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof.L.I.N Ezemonye, who spoke on Plurality of ecotoxicological interventions in environmental management system, said the release of several industrial chemicals to the environment had resulted into acute lethal toxicity in the water body, noting that species of fishes, shrimps and earthworms had been endangered.

    Ezemonye, represented by Dr Alex Enuneku, said species of organisms in the Niger Delta had mortality average of seven days, saying this necessitated the constant monitoring of the water in the region.

    Outlining the challenges facing ecological research, Prof Onwurah said insufficient funding is the major problem of quality research into the issue. He urged the Federal Government to establish direct linkage between researchers and those in the affected communities, to enable experts tackle the problems.

    Other challenges, he pointed out, included inadequate capacity building for technical staff undertaking ecoloxicological analysis and the pressure to reduce use of vegetables in ecotoxicological test in biochemistry research.

    Mrs Folake Idowu-Adebayo  spoke on Proximate composition and effect of frying on the oxalic content of cocoyam (Xanthosoma Sagittifolium) chips. The don, who is of the Federal University in Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti-State, said she observed that the method of processing oxalic contents of a fried food had specific effects on the body system.

    She said it was important to determine the effect of processing on the oxalic contents in every stage of production by street vendors, stressing that there was need to understand the effectiveness of frying method before accepting fried food.

    Describing quality food and good health as fundamental to society development, Idowu-Adebayo said government must revitalise public health institutions to meet international standard in reducing health problems emanating from fried food.

    The organising secretary of the conference, Dr Victor Ogugua, said the aim of the conference was to remind the government about the importance of environmental protection to the wellbeing of the society. He said impacts of environmental degradation on rural dwellers, particularly in the Niger-Delta region could not be quantified, pointing out that the perennial flood in the area was one of the threats being posed by mismanaged environment.

     

     

  • Group distributes free soap to rural dwellers

    To curb the spread of infectious diseases through hand washing, a non- governmental organisation, Thomas O. Women Network (TOWN) has distributed free soap empowered women and children in Ikate community, Lekki, Lagos State.

    Over 1000 rural dwellers were given soaps and other household items at the event tagged “Bathe a child, preserve a life”.

    The brain behind the initiative, Mrs Thomas Ogboja said:”TOWN manufactured soaps and we also collect used soaps left by guests in hotels to reproduce new soaps. Even though soaps usually contain antibacterial ingredients that kill germs, we will also recycle them so that they do not pose as health hazard to our beneficiaries.

    “TOWN is not selling the recycled soaps but distributing them to people free. We intend to educate less-privileged women in the society on the importance and benefit of ensuring they and their children maintain good hygiene.’’

    She noted that with regular hand washing with soap, 1.4 million deaths can be prevented each year and mortality rate will drastically be reduced. Foodstuffs, including rice, salt and clothes were later donated to the beneficiaries during the event.

  • ‘Information gap bane of rural farming’

    A lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension of the Delta State University (DELSU), Prof Ogisi Ovuevuraye, has blamed poor information network for small-scale farming problems. Small formers, he said, could not take advantage of developments in agriculture because of communication gap.

    Ogisi said the short life-span of agricultural policies and programmes of government did not allow sufficient time for proper evaluation, thereby putting farmers at a disadvantage.

    He spoke during the 38th inaugural lecture held at the Pre-degree Auditorium in Site III of the university.

    Delivering a lecture titled: Agricultural reforms without food security: A paradox, Ogisi lamented the high level of food importation in the country, despite government’s agricultural trade policies.

    Ogisi called for consistency, effective monitoring and evaluation of resources, stressing that the nation should intensify food production to achieve food security for the teeming populace.

  • Easing rural transportation in Plateau

    Easing rural transportation in Plateau

    For residents of Southern Plateau, the problem of moving from one point to the other is over. Before now, they found it difficult to move to other parts of the area or evacuate their goods to the city due to lack of government-owned vehicles, a situation private commercial vehicle owners cashed in on to exploit the people.

    This situation had been a source of worry to the local government authorities. Happily, the Chairman of Shendam Local Government Area, Dr. Kemi Nicholas Nshe had provided some buses and taxis in order to lessen the suffering of the rural dwellers.

    With a distance of about 300 kilometers to Jos, the state capital, residents of the six local government areas that constitute Southern Plateau had been at the mercy of private commercial operators who cashed in on the absence of government-owned buses to exploit them.

    As a result of this, it was difficult for them to get to the state capital at will. Plateau South comprises six local government namely Shendam, Quan-Pan, Mikang, Wase, Langtang South and Langtang North local government areas.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that most of these local government areas could not venture into transport business to alleviate the suffering of people of the zone due to lack of adequate resources.

    According to Timothy Nyelong, a resident of Shendam Village, the major problem of the people in the area is lack of means of transportation to Jos.

    “Most of us need to get to our state capital to carry out one transaction or the other in the state capital. In most cases, we do that with tears because the private commercial vehicles owners charge exorbitant transport fare, and we have no option than to allow them exploit us. We have been praying for government’s intervention in this area,” he said.

    On why the local government had to purchase the buses and taxis, Dr. Nshe said: “We took up the challenge to purchase these buses because we are conscious of the sufferings of our people in the area of transportation. We find it very essential to intervene because the state government had constructed many roads in the Southern zone, especially in Shendam and all other local government areas in the zone.

    “Unfortunately, private commercial vehicle owners are exploiting our people. So, the only solution to that is for us to complement the efforts of the state government by procuring buses and taxis for commercial purposes. We aim at subsidising the fares.

    “By so doing, we would have forced down the high rate of fares our people usually pay. In other words, my administration is making efforts to key into the massive transformation agenda of the state government. We have to adopt the state government’s development plan, replicate it at the grassroots so that dividends of democracy will transcend down to the rural dwellers.”

    Continuing, he said: “The people of Shendam are full of gratitude to the redemption agenda of Governor Jonah Jang. Our local government area is wearing a new look due to some infrastructural projects provided by the state government in our locality. The township roads, the expansion of rural roads and the construction of new ones are some of these projects the state government had executed in our area.

    “So, all I have to do is to complement these efforts by the launch of these buses so that our people can benefit from the massive road constructions carried out by Governor Jang.”

    While inaugurating some tricycles which were distributed to youths of the local government, the chairman said it was a deliberate effort of the council to empower youths of the area in order to reduce rate of unemployment.

    He said: “We have teeming unemployed youths here. So, we have to create a means to make the youth productive and useful to themselves and the society. We are beginning with 20 tricycles in the first phase. We will follow it up with more tricycles in the second phase of the youth empowerment scheme.”

    Also speaking, Special Assistant to Governor Jang on Shendam Local Government Affairs, Isaac Aliyu said: “With the inauguration of these vehicles, Dr. Nshe has, again, proved that he is a truly committed, sincere and dedicated redemption team member.

    “His adoption of the transformation agenda of Governor Jang stands him out as a rural transformer. If the council boss continued this way, Shendam will take the lead among the 17 local government areas in Plateau State as a people-oriented leader.”

  • ‘Involve private sector in rural education’

    The proprietor of International College Ibefun, in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Prince Babatunde Taiwo, is advocating more private sector’s involvement in rural education development to improve teaching and learning in the country.

    Private sectors, Taiwo argued, should endeavour to support the government at all levels in ensuring that quality education is available to children regardless of their financial background.

    Taiwo, who spoke at the pioneer valedictory/prize giving of the school, said the destiny of a nation depends solely on how youths are equipped for future.

    According to him, every child, irrespective of their social background, deserves an access to quality education as a veritable tool for their advancement and the country at large.

    He said the burden to meet up with the ‘Education For All’ agenda of the MDGs could not be achieved by various governments without a major participation from the private sectors.

    He acknowledged that establishing ICI in Odogbolu local government area, on a full scholarship basis for town indigenes, only represents a drop in the ocean of his programme for the less-privileged.

    His words: “If I had the money, I will educate every Nigerian child to secondary school level at the least, free of charge, but unfortunately I don’t.

    “As an observer of the sector, the dwindling education can be attributable to the decline of facilities in the various elementary and secondary schools.

    “Though governments are giving their best to rescue the sector, but they cannot do it without the help of private investors.

    “The problem in education is a revolving one and you now see overseas institutions taking advantage of the situation to penetrate the sector.”