All-African Students Union (AASU) has called on governments on the continent to tackle the high rate of insecurity in Africa so as to boost students’ enrolment into higher institutions of learning.
President of the Union, Mr Osisiogu Osikenyi made the call in Abuja, on Saturday, at the presentation of awards to some deserving Nigerians in the education sector.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by La HEGJ University, Benin Republic, in Collaboration with the West Africa Students Union (WASU).
Osikenyi, while noting the effect of insecurity on education, said the menace was “very disturbing” calling on hands to be on deck to tackle it across Africa.
“Aside incessant industrial actions by most African universities, we also have insecurity keeping millions of prospective students out of school.
“It has become very important that this thing was looked into holistically,” he said.
He further said that education was becoming increasingly expensive in Africa with the cost always getting high “and of course the economy is not getting better.
“Parents are not able to send their children to school as they ought to,” he said.
On the ongoing strike by Nigerian Universities, Osikenyi said that such an action must be addressed by adequate budgetary provisions.
“We are calling on all African governments to put enough funds into education in their countries,” Osikenyi said.
Also, President WASU, Mr Romans Pullah decried that “much attention has not been given to education in Africa.
“If you look at the way education is handled, in terms of sponsorship and appropriation, one would say there is no attention given to that sector.”
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Chairman of the occasion, Rep. Danladi Baido (Ardo-kola, Lau, Karim-Lamido) said that education financing across Africa “is inadequate”.
Baido, who was represented by his Special Assistant Media and Political Strategy, Mr Nelson Wilson, called on government at all levels to prioritise education for a better society.
Earlier, the Convener, Mr Hope Daniel said that the award was bestowed on Dr Peter Adejoh, Chief Executive Officer, Camey and Rock Holdings, Abuja, for his track record of support to indigent students.
“Adejoh has supported education and sponsored a large number of students,” he said.
(NAN)
