Wunmi Semudara
The Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission NUC, Okojie Julius, has implored the Government at all levels in Nigeria to ensure that education at the basic and secondary levels is Free and Mandatory.
Okojie made the call at the launch of the Thomas Agnes Christiana Okojie (TACO) Charity Foundation, named after his parent and wife.
Okojie frowned at the state of primary education.
He said pupils still learn under the tree during one of his tours to schools around the country,
“Pupils and Students studying under the tree would eventually be half-baked, which is not good for the country’s growth and development.
“Local, State and Federal Government structures are not working. Federal Government is still doing basic education, when it is the function of local government, secondary schools for states and the federal government is still doing it.
”Having worked through public service, I know that a girl who has no education does not have a space in this country. So I have been promoting that crusade informally using my family house in Uromi, in Edo state.
”I have decided it will be the headquarters of the foundation. Education is the least you can give to kids and there is so much work to do in this country.
”I have always preached free primary and secondary education but we are not doing it. Universities could go on strike every day, there is nowhere in the world that you do not have that.
