ABU Alumni: Respect UNESCO’S Constitution On Education As Way Forward – Comrade Sanusi Maikudi

ABU Alumni: Respect UNESCO’S Constitution On Education As Way Forward – Comrade Sanusi Maikudi

Zainab Tanimu

Kaduna Northwest Nigeria

The Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Alumni Association has called on the need for the federal government to respect UNESCO’s constitution which states that 26 percent of a country’s budget be committed to education.

This it said will go a long way in solving the incessant crisis being witnessed in our educational sectors today, particularly, our universities.

This position was stated in a paper presented during the association’s  meeting held in Kaduna over the weekend.

The presenter of the paper, titled, “Alternative Fundings For University Education” Comrade Sanusi Maikudi,

Director Kaduna state Water Cooperation, in his paper however noted that Irrespective of the UNESCO’s law on education, there is the need to revive the educational section through alternative  funding.

The enormous task of government singlehandedly funding education in Nigeria is no longer feasible, as such, other viable means need to be sourced in order to get the system right.

“The Federal government needs to comply with the UNESCO’s constitution which states that 26 percent of a country’s budget should be committed to education because of the value of promoting human resource workforce and human capital of the country.”

While calling on the government to do the needful to end the prolonged stay of students at home, he urged the university authorities to equally play their parts in assisting government in providing quality education for our students.

Stressing, he said, one of the consequences of ASUU strike is that it will discourage international students from enrolling in our universities.

“I want to register my disagreement with the Exco’s position that only government should fund universities.There are other funding windows to utilized.

“For the healthy development of the Nigerian education and tertiary educational sectors, options should be explored just as it is being done in other

parts of the country. With that we can have additional money to grow the universities to meet the growing population.

Stressing further,

“Each stakeholders should contribute his or her own quarters to make sure that there are enough resources to grow, expand and maintain the system through tuition and other means.

“There should be special provisions for those who cannot afford it. They should have scholarships, they should have loan scheme or have subsidy. For those who are able to pay, they should pay. This is the best practice in the world.”

Speaking, The Director General of Ahmadu Bello Foundation, the Chairman Ahmadu Bello University Allumnia Association Kaduna state Branch, Engr. Abubakar Gambo is also of the view that government alone can no longer fund universities. Other funding sources must be looked into.

Aside sourcing the assistance of private sectors, the university themselves will need to look inward, he said.

“They could raise funds through commercializations of some of their activities to generate funding, generate ideas in order to supplement what government is giving them.

Fund could be generated through their publications, through the use of some of

 their facilities such as the use of laboratory etc.

He also urged for the introduction of realistic tuition fees considering the reality of situation on ground. This he said will  make education accessible to every eligible student.

“With this, public universities will run efficiently, effectively and be able to compete favourably with other universities globally.”