Julius OkorieNigerians especially those in leadership position who ferry their children abroad in search of better education, have been told that selfish approach cannot change the situation.
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, who made the submission noted that it will take collective effort to take the nation’s educational standard to where it ought to be.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Governor who revealed that all his five kids are as a matter of fact schooling in the country opined that it is possible to reposition the country’s educational system by injecting those things that serve as major attraction to foreign institutions.”
“I am the only governor in Nigeria presently that all his children are schooling in the country and not even beyond Southeast! 3 in Ebonyi and 2 in Enugu. Their biggest school fees is #35, 000 and when I told them in the Nigeria Governor’s forum, all were surprised and felt sober.
“Some Commissioners in my government have schools they are paying over N2 million per term for their children but I can’t imagine myself paying such amount that’s more than 5 million per term for my children. Where will I get the money to continue paying for their school fees after my temporary tenure as a governor? I don’t want to develop blood pressure during the time I should be resting.
“We must have to join hands together and reposition educational system in the country such that we can bring down those things that are lacking here that is making those big men to always send their children abroad for studies and I must make sure it starts from Ebonyi State.” he said.
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Sending Children abroad for studies has over the years become a societal symbol and bragging right in Nigeria.
Some analysts and social critics have cited the desire to belong to this league of Nigerians with children studying abroad as one of the reason why corruption has taken a new dimension as many public office holders, deep hands into commonwealth to finance selfish desires and continue to live above their means. Ironically some of these corrupt persons and corner cutters end up getting national award thus making it discouraging those working genuinely and deligently hard
According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerians spent $38.17 million on foreign education between January and March 2024.
This was an 83% decrease from the $218.87 million spent in the same period in 2023. However, it was a 54% increase from the $24.82 million spent in the fourth quarter of 2023.
A further break down according to the same CBN report indicate that Nigeria spent $28.65bn on foreign education 10 years between 2010 and 2020,with Personal Transport Allowance, PTA, totalling $58.7billion.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
