Kuni Tyessi in Abuja
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has commended the proprietor of Pacesetters Schools, Abuja, Mr. Ken Imansuangbon and his wife, Kate, for providing quality education and building future leaders of the country.
The governor said this at the graduation and prize-giving ceremony of the class of 2021 of the school, where about 400 pupils and students graduated from the nursery, primary and secondary sections.
Obaseki, who was the special guest of honour, applauded the founder and the school’ s management team for their vision in setting up the school, saying,“today, we can see what two individuals have done to improve the quality of foundational education.
“These are kids that can stand their ground if they are paired with children of the same age anywhere in the world. That means the educational system if structured right can produce same quality of human capacity as you find in advanced countries. That’s what we saw today,” Obaseki said.
In his remarks, Imansuangbon described Obaseki as a reference point in education in the country. “What he is doing in Edo State, the EdoBEST; the mighty works he has done in the education sector is very encouraging.”
While announcing plans to establish a university, he said: “For me, the governor is 100 per cent right that it is time for us to own the Pacesetters University. God willing it is coming. It will come like a big bang. The world will know that a university has come.
“We have made an application to the National Universities Commission (NUC). We have some international supporters. We have got supporters across the world.”
While stating that education opens the human mind and liberates individuals from chains of poverty and societal ills, Imansuangbon enjoined the graduating students to be of good character and set the pace wherever the find themselves, adding that hard work, the fear of God and dedication will set them apart from others.
“Among you are doctors, lawyers, pilots, governors and ministers. I might not be alive to see all of that and I might be alive. So my prayer for you is to go out there, set the pace and excel,” he said.
Also speaking, a former Minister of Education and co-convener of #Bring Back Our Girls, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili expressed concern that nine out of every 10 African children are not able to read and learn or identify numbers at the age of 10.
Describing such statistics and reality as an economic disaster, she said for Nigeria to move forward from its present economic state, education and human capital must be the new crude oil.
Emphasising the love of oil and the gains from it by the elite and political class of the society, the one time Vice-President of the World Bank, said crude oil has a severance date and as such, there must be a change in focus.
“If children are not able to read to get certain numerical concept before the age of 10, they are going to be completely unable to accomplish much in life. I’m citing evidence and not mere say.
“Nations where citizens are not at the economic centre have ended up at the bottom. So if the continent has to make it, education and human capital has to be epicentre of our economic strategy. Education has to be the new oil,” she said.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of prizes to outstanding graduands and special recognition awards to Obaseki and some other eminent personalities for their contributions to educational development in Nigeria.
Other dignitaries at the occasion included Senator Mathew Urhoghide, representing Edo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly and his wife; Senator Victor Oyofo; and Mike Ozekhome SAN.
