‘A Nation That Is Not Educated Is Not A Nation’
Prof. David Ogungbile, the Head of Department, Religious Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, on Saturday urged the state and religious bodies to partner to give education its pride of place in the country.
Ogungbile spoke at the inaugural Seminar and 53rd Anniversary of the Motailatu Church, Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, along Lagos/Epe Expressway.
He said there was a need to work together in advancing qualitative education by following the United Nations’ prescription.
The seminar had the topic: “Nigeria and Quality (Qualitative) Education: How would religious bodies partner with the state in getting it right?’’
Ogungbile said that the state and religious bodies should collaborate in reviewing the concept and policies of education in a bid to make it more qualitative.
He said that the previous and current structure, curricula and programmes of education need to be re-examined to find out areas where things could be done better.
“There should be a collective review of such programmes, structure and curricula. Curricula must address all-round education which addresses the wholeness of the human being: language, culture, history, science, science, technology, medicine, ’’the professor said.
The Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Apostle Alexander Bamgbola, on his part, urged government at all levels to give priority to the education sector.
He also charged parents to take the education of their children serious. “A nation that is not educated is not a nation, a nation where education is being destroyed that nation is being destroyed,’’ the cleric said.
He said that a drop in the education sector adversely affects the nation, so there is a need to have a paradigm shift and give the right education.
Bamgbola said giving children qualitative education is the best thing that can be handed down to posterity.
“There is need to make learning attractive for the future of the country,’’ he said, noting that if school is made attractive, it will reduce the rate of dropouts.
“Government and parents should know that education should be number one in planning the future of our children.
“When you plan for children, you plan for the future. When the future is solid, then other things will fall in place,’’ he said.
