Obaseki Shares Edo’s Education Reforms’ Success Story at LSE Africa Summit in London
State says it has surplus mineral deposits to host 20 more Dangote, BUA plants
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, at the weekend, spoke to global and business leaders, policymakers and other participants at the London School of Economics Africa Summit 2024 in London, United Kingdom, with the impact of his administration’s education sector reforms.
SA statement by the state government said Obaseki reeled out how the reforms in the past seven and half years had improved learning outcomes, especially at the foundational level, tackling learning poverty.
The event was held with the theme: “African Minds Transforming Futures: Building Resilient Education Systems.” The governor’s speech was tagged: “The Future of Education in Africa: The Role of African Players in Advancing Education in Africa.”
Obaseki, while reiterating the need to sustain investment in education to effectively harness the potential and resourcefulness of Africa’s youthful population, said the continent’s youths hold the key to its sustainable growth and development.
“By 2050, Africa will have at least 33 per cent of the global youth population and this population holds the key to shaping our world, our culture, and politics, among others. This gives us immense opportunity to reshape the world. However, a bulk of this population could become a liability if we do not invest in them.
“So, on one hand, we have this asset that holds the key to Africa’s future and development, and on the other hand is the challenges. I believe that if we have the political will and make strategic investments, build a resilient and dynamic education system, prioritise skills development to address global challenges, and encourage innovation and inclusive governance, we stand a very good chance of resolving and tackling these challenges,” he said.
While identifying obstacles to improving education and youth development in the continent, the governor listed poor infrastructure, lack of teacher training, poverty level and digital divide in accessing necessary technology for education as major obstacles.
He stated: “So if we must build a resilient education system in the region, we must understand that education should not just be seen as constructing buildings and classrooms.
“It is more about igniting curiosity, fostering critical thinking, and empowering young minds to reach their full potential. We must focus on nurturing the flames of knowledge and inspiration transcending mere bricks and mortar.”
Sharing success stories of the State’s education sector reforms, Obaseki noted that before now, Edo State was a prime source for human trafficking and illegal migration.
“Between 2016 and 2017, we had more than 30,000 young Edo boys and girls who had got themselves to Libya to cross over to Europe.
“Our children were significantly underperforming academically; teachers needed more encouragement, support and modern tools and techniques; schools were not properly managed and there was no community ownership of basic education.
“At the time, the government lacked real-time concrete data for policy making and interventions.
We knew we needed to create and strengthen our education ecosystem focusing on foundational learning, on the basis of access, inclusion, and quality control.
“We focused on system strengthening and organisational development, making the institutions stronger to drive these reforms. We also knew that the key to education is teaching.
“So, we prioritised teachers’ professional development and quality assurance. We also concentrated on curriculum development and learning outcomes as well as community engagement and partnerships, while paying critical attention to school infrastructure and facilities,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Enaholo Ojiefoh, has said that the state has surplus solid mineral deposits to host more than 20 more mega plants like the ones set up and operated by Dangote Group and BUA Cement in the state.
Speaking during a live chat with his counterpart in the Ministry of Digital Economy, Science and
Technology, Hon. Ogbeide Ifaluyiisibor, Ojiefoh noted that the state has enormous deposits of limestone, dolomite, quartz, gold, kaolin, feldspar, clay, gemstone, quartz, and is determined to exploit the minerals.
“BUA has been mining in a particular spot for over 10 years. Freedom Group has been mining on their site for over 30 years. They are over 50 years old. The hills you see when going through Okpella are all minerals. The same applies to Akoko Edo. There is a huge deposit of dolomite, limestone, and many others across the State,” he said.
He noted that the state government was looking at expanding the number of ceramics companies in the state to increase productivity and expand the opportunities for employment.
Ojiefoh added that the move would boost revenue in the state and also allow for skills development as the companies will have to train more persons in the state to fill vacancies.
“We are ready for investment in Edo. We do not just want to identify the minerals; we want to use these to drive industrialization and that is the mandate we have from the governor,” he said.