Africa’s education curriculum needs to adapt changing world — Osinbajo

great promise in supporting the industry.

“And the need and support they can get in many cases that support can come especially in the form of infrastructure from the government and credit also from the government.

“But things have changed in so many fundamental respect that there is greater independence of the artist and the creative people and they really function very effectively with little help.

“I would say that we should be cautious in not interfering too much; at the same time, we need to provide infrastructure, we need to provide credit with such an exposure that they may need.

“Well, certainly we could do a lot more I don’t think it is right to say that we are doing what we can.

“But frankly I think that we should start from the premise of placing a different vision before our young people.”

According to him, there is need to have a clarity of vision on where Africa is headed in terms of education.

He said there was need to give Africa’s young people a sense that there was a future and that there were promises that could be made and delivered.

The vice president said that education was about youth demographics.

“It is really the privileged young people; I use the word privilege cautiously because these are young people with education – local education or education abroad, some have college degree and all of that and there is a huge rural young people who have no education and that demography has a large number of women.

“So, even understanding what such of educational programmes we need to put in place and even the vision for that educational programme you have to understand that we are dealing with several demographics.

“The final point is that we are in a new place where the world has changed so dramatically and particularly in the past 10 years, where we have robotic, artificial intelligence; what sort of education makes sense to create job opportunities today?

“This is the time to think through the educational curriculum and to decide how this curriculum will be relevant and would deliver the sort of persons that we want to deliver and create the sort of opportunities that we require for the jobs that will be available,’’ he said.

Kaberuka, before responding to his own question, complimented Osinbajo for his contributions to Nigeria’s development.

“I think this gentleman has done an excellent job in his country; I do not think we have seen the last of him,” he said.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Mo Ibrahim, who is also the founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said it had become urgent for Africa to adjust to the fast-paced world.

According to him, questions on Africa’s relationship with the rest of the world and the benefits therein will be raised at the forum.

“This year, the world is changing around us; I think everybody knows that; all the previous assumptions are being broken; we see different powers rising; tensions, camps being formed, where exactly is Africa’s place.

“Things are really changing around us and where are we? What is our relationship with these people?

“We need to understand and define our relationship with rest of the world; what does Africa offer the world and what does the world offer Africa?’’ he asked.

Youth development: Education ministry seeks for Buhari assent to peace corps bill

By Maryam Abeeb

The Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, has expressed optimism that the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria Peace Corps recently transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari would receive positive attention from the Presidency to enable the organization continue with its value-driven programmes geared towards the socio-economic development of the youths.

The Ministry expressed the hope while appraising the contributions of the Peace Corps of Nigeria in the general maintenance of discipline in schools and colleges across the country.

A delegation from the Ministry, led by the Principal Executive Officer, Special Duties in the Ministry, Mr. Victor Opeyemi praised the Corps during an assessment visit to the Headquarters of the Corps in Jabi, Abuja.

While addressing officers and men of the Corps during the visit, Opeyemi applauded efforts of the Corps in youth empowerment, peace and security, assuring the organization of greater partnership and support from the Ministry.

He stated further that Peace

Corps’ activities in Schools and Colleges through the formation of Peace Club has helped significantly in inculcating the culture of Peace in the younger generation.

He promised that the ministry will continue to partner with the organization to continue with its activities, especially in Unity schools across the country.

Opeyemi prayed that the Bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps which is to give statutory backing to the Organization, passed by the National Assembly and recently transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari would receive positive attention from the Presidency.

In his reaction, the National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, Professor Dickson Akoh, appreciated the Ministry for the visit and traced the relationship to 2002, when the Corps was registered as a non-governmental organization by the Ministry.

He assured the Ministry and the Federal Government that the organization would remain resolute in its commitment to national creativity, peace and youth development, being the cardinal objectives of the organization.

Saraki’s wife urges new govt to promote girl child education

Maryam Abeeb

Wife of former President of the Senate, Toyin Sarahi has urged the incoming administration key in on gender transformative education issues, to promote the education of the girl child, addressing education gaps and fundamental issues that contribute to outof-school and poor literacy levels across Nigeria.”

Mrs Saraki, who is the FounderPresident, Wellbeing Foundation Africa, also called for legislation to make basic education free up to secondary school level.

She also seeks for allocation of 22.5 percent of the national budget to education by 2025.

She said this would guarantee 12 years of uninterrupted education for Nigerian children and reduce the number of out-ofschool children.

Speaking at the National Moment on Basic and Secondary Education programme organised by the Malala Fund on Thursday in Abuja, Saraki stated that political will through legislation amendment and financial planning would significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children which currently stands at over 18 million.

In two years, insecurity has resulted in the abduction of 1,470 students, attacks on 25 schools, 200 children missing, and forced over one million children to stay away from school.

The former Kwara first lady said: “Education is the most powerful investment in our future, and this moment is an opportunity for us to encourage our new government to re-imagine education for the country and find better ways to provide 12 years of safe, free, quality education for all…

“I urge the new incoming government to key in on gender transformative education issues, to promote the education of the girl child, addressing education gaps and fundamental issues that contribute to outof-school and poor literacy levels across Nigeria.”

Programme Director, Malala Fund, Fatima Askira, called for the implementation of a multi-sectoral support to keep children, especially the girl-child safe, and aid in the development of federal and state-level roadmaps and plans for funding, safety, standards, and training.

Askira pledged the organisation’s commitment to influence government policies on girl-child education significantly.