By Adadainfo
Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, will be the guest speaker at the fourth
investiture of the Chartered Institute of Educational Practitioners UK holding in Abuja on August 25.
The institute’s president, Prof Marcel Ezenwoye, stated this Monday while addressing newsmen ahead of the event billed for the National Merit House, Abuja.
Ezenwoye said, “Mr Obi is coming to reawaken the consciousness of our youths, which is the philosophy of our institute. We had always advocated pragmatic education where our youths learn relevant skills while in school.
“We also advocate the reintegration of non-formal education with formal education. We’ve youths who are talented in crafts. What’s wrong in making youths in formal education to acquire skills from them while pursuing their academic progammes.
“CIEPUK is worried about the dwindling fortunes of our youths, considering the seeming helplessness of the government to address the plights of our youths holistically.
“This event will focus on re-awakening the consciousness of African youths and entrenching pragmatic education for sustainable development. The theme is ‘sustainable youth capacity development’. Our Talent Hunt Season One Contest and education symposium will also be in focus.
“We shall also launch ‘The Mushroom’ which is a new concept for wealth creation. Our partner off-takers from the US will be there to address the benefits of the agro-initiative. Above all, we have assembled our scholarship partners across the globe to offer first-hand services to our youths seeking scholarships and admissions both locally and overseas.”
Ezenwoye regretted the dwindling educational standards in Nigeria, especially the lingering strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
He said, “The system has failed woefully, and we won’t allow our future which youths are the custodians to be destroyed by insensitive leaders. CIEPUK is harvesting the potentials of our youths and encouraging education based on skills and patriotism.
“Our proposed event will provide the platform for stakeholders to deliberate on core national issues after which we engage policy makers for implementation, while individuals will also be challenged to adopt same for self-discovery.”
He said Mr Peter Obi has inputs to make in all these issues as an economist and philosopher, adding that ‘it is why we have made him our quest speaker’.
He added however that, “CIEPUK acknowledges with pride some emerging and existing education institutions for their steadfastness in ensuring quality education. Afebabalola University, Baze University, Gregory University, Godfrey Okoye University and emerging ones like Maduka University at Ekwegbe-Nsukka readily come to mind.”
The Chartered Institute of Educational Practitioner UK is a leading professional body registered and accredited in the United Kingdom and Nigeria with the aim of responding to the ensuing paradigm shift in the quality of education both in skilled and unskilled levels globally.
