President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has flagged-off the distribution of instructional materials for basic education schools in Nigeria under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme.The Flag off ceremony which was held at the Model Primary School, Maitama, Abuja, on Thursday, was performed by Vice President Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo, who represented him at the occasion.
President Jonathan stressed the need for equitable distribution and effective application and use of the learning materials, saying “we must do all we can to ensure that textbooks and instructional materials bring added value to our education process.”
“This three dimension strategy- quality production; equitable distribution; and effective application; are essential steps that must be taken if we are to realise significant benefits from our enormous investment in quality education, over the years,” he added.
He therefore charged all stakeholders to understand the inextricable linkages between the three components, adding that education was an important component of his administration’s Transformation Agenda.
The President used the occasion to call on all stakeholders to support governments at all levels to ensure that “the basic education sub-sector, provides the solid foundation for quality education in Nigeria.”
Speaking, the Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i said the distribution of the education materials was part of Federal Government’s four year strategic plan aimed at improving quality of education, charging the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to track the movement and usage of the books.
Earlier the Minister of State for Education, Ezenwo Nysom Wike, stated that the textbooks where free and the distribution would be a collaboration between the Ministry, UBEC and its counterparts in the 36 States including the FCT.
Books to be distributed to all pupils of primary one and two include; English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies and Basic Science and Technology, as well as Library Resources Materials for Junior Secondary Schools nationwide, under the FGN-UBE intervention for delivery of quality basic education to the Nigerian child.
Present at the occasion were the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, Chairman Senate Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, his House of Representatives counterpart Farouk Lawan, Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed and other stakeholders.
