NIGERIA: Need for more transparency in Education

Pupils in a class without facilities

A seasoned governance and human development expert, Dr Otive Igbuzor has identified lack of monitoring, accountability and transparency in the system, as the major factors militating against the progress of the nation's waning education sector and called for a holistic and well-thought-out approach to reverse the trend.

Igbuzor who made this known at a one-day parley with Correspondents and Media Executives in Kaduna Nigeria, spoke extensively on the root causes of corruption, the need for probity in the education sector, budget analysis as well as education as key to human development.

The one-day sensitization program put together by Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW/LEADS) alongside Mac Arthur Foundation, harped on 'enhancing reportage on Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) projects in the state as well as Public Procurement Process in the sector' to strengthen accountability and transparency in the education sector.

Igbuzor reasoned that before sanity could return to the troubled education sector, qualified and visionary leaders with outstanding leadership and management skills must be brought on board to innovate and make education research-driven and technologically oriented.

Also speaking, Executive Director, Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women, Barrister Rebecca Sako-John, stressed that since education plays a key role to the attainment of high positive outcomes in economic growth, good health and social justice, she is pleased to partner with the esteemed Mac Arthur Foundation to promote education in all its ramifications.

"Between 2017 and 2020 - our project duration- we are focusing on 20 schools annually in three local government areas of Chikun, Soba and Kaura. Also, we are working day and night to strengthen access to information on governance and administration of education projects to decrease the risk of leakages and corruption in the administration and use of UBEC funds in Kaduna state", the executive director explained.

While calling on the media to leverage on existing platforms towards deepening its efforts in investigative reporting, she urged practitioners to focus more on service delivery not service provision.

Comments

Coalition cautions against Nigeria's Disunity

N etwork for Better Nigeria, a coalition of concerned Civil Society Organizations in the 19 Northern States has responded to the growing tension threatening national unity and socio-economic development of the country and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently collaborate with the governors in the 19 northern states and critical stakeholders to arrest the lingering insecurity in Nigeria. In a joint statement signed by Mallam Isiaku Abdulhameed, the coalition in collaboration with Arewa Youth Consultative Youth Movement, Arewa Youth Assembly and Chanchanta stated inter Alia: "the Federal Government should urgently collaborate with the Northern State Governors and come up with a modernistic livestock development policy which will not only provide solutions to the herders/farmers crises but transform the age long traditional open grazing towards providing additional economic value for pastoral communities. Equally, we wish to express our support on the position...

Environmentalists re-strategize on governance

A cross-section of environmental strategists at the event Lack of good and well-intentioned environmental governance and social audit for effective monitoring and evaluation of data and procurement have been identified as the major impediment against the climate change campaign in Kaduna state. A leading member of Network of Civil Societies in Environment, Gloria Kasang Bulus, who made this known during a one-day capacity building platform for critical stakeholders working around environment - strengthening the technical working groups; to develop or use tools required for effective engagement with government, urged participants to volunteer wholeheartedly in the task ahead - to mitigate climate change. Bulus who is also the Director, Bridge that Gap Initiative and convener of the network noted that, "Unless and until we are able to partner the government in ensuring outcomes in tandem with the people oriented policies, plans, appropriations; we will be doing next...

Open Budget: Kaduna seeks citizens' input in 2020 Budget

F ollowing sustained campaign by concerned citizens and critical stakeholders in Kaduna state to open up the budget cycle, the Governor el-Rufa'i-led administration, during the week, engaged the representatives of the academia, community-based organizations, the civil society, women groups and individuals on state's 2020 to 2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework(MTEF) to make next year's budget budget realistic and realizable. The event tagged 'Citizens Consultations on 2020-2022 MTEF' which was put together by the state's Planning and Budget Commission with the support of DFID-funded Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), took a critical look at strategies to forge a people-centered budget with emphasis on transparency, openness and accountability. Co-chair of the Open Government Partnership(OGP) in the state, Alhaji Mustapha Jumare told participants that as a sub national, Kaduna state was indeed a trail brazer in nation's quest ...

Environmentalists intensify action against global warming!

A cross section of the Network of Civil Society in Environment being welcome by the commissioner (Centre) I n a bid to cushion the increasing adverse effects of global warming on the environment, non-state actors under the aegis of Network of Civil Society in Environment (NCSE), during the week in Kaduna, sought for a robust partnership with the state's Environment and Natural Resources Ministry to address numerous environmental challenges facing the state. Receiving the group who were on an advocacy visit to the Ministry, the Honourable Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Ibrahim Garba Hussain expressed delight over the renewed move to mitigate environmental degradation and pledged his support for the initiative. "Climate change is all as result of the activity and action of man. It might interest you to know that the Ministry has put together a comprehensive policy document on environment. That is why I am very pleased to welcome you peo...

SEMA engages Zaria communities on disaster risk reduction strategies

Executive Secretary, Abubakar Hassan (center) and his team at Zaria By EDDY OCHIGBO V ulnerable communities and wards in and around Zaria and its environs have been sensitized and strengthened to tackle possible disasters, ranging from gully erosion, insecurity, fire and rape vis-a-vis the ongoing environmental hazards awareness campaign across Kaduna state. Keen watchers believe that the move - which is aimed at system strengthening on emergency coordination and response strategy - in collaboration with the United State Agency for International Development's Nigeria Early Recovery Initiative (NERI) would drastically reduce peoples' vulnerability and possible disasters in the state. "To prevent disasters, we must get the people equipped and prepared to understand what constitutes hazards, risks etc., as well as what they should do to identify early warning signs and signals. The exercise is taking place in all the wards and communities in Tudun Wada, Sabon Gari, Zaria Ci...

Cubinks NEWS

Search This Blog