BENIN CITY – Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State says the next phase of revamping the educational system in the State is to create institutions and begin to train teachers in the 21st Century methods.
Speaking during the presentation of a book entitled “Realities of Nigerian Education” written by the Iyase of Benin Kingdom Chief Sam Igbe in Benin City, Thursday,
Governor Obaseki said, “For me, this is the compass I have been looking for. If you note, my assignment has been focused on education because if not for the education I received, I wouldn’t have been Governor today. And for me, it is a priority that if I have anything to give back to my society and my people, it is must be to ensure that they have very educated families.”
He said, “We had a much more fundamental issue which was the quality of people who were instructing our children in those schools. So, the phase we have to tackle, and that is why yesterday I had to go to Ekiadolor to see what was going in Tayo Akpata University of Education. The next phase is to now create institutions and begin to train our teachers in the 21st Century methods of teaching and also organize our curriculum.”
Governor Obaseki lauded the contents of the book, “Your book has now helped me to clarify the much more fundamental issue, which is that, yes, we will review the school system, we will review the infrastructure, and we will train teachers. But will that be our children’s education? Will they make them literate? There is a lot much more, and those are the issues that you have raised in your book today, and I want to thank you sincerely.”
He congratulated the author of the book and described the book as a compendium and compass for the future, “I want to congratulate you. I want to assure you that what you have done today is a compendium and a compass for the future. And we pray that the Almighty continues to keep you with us in good health, sound mind so that we can really learn from your years of experience. Congratulations.”
The Governor who unveiled the book said he would on behalf of the state government pick five hundred of the books for colleges and university of education in the state.
Speaking earlier, the author of the book and Iyase of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe said he wrote the book to join forces with others to return the educational system to its rightful place in order for Nigeria to achieve the desired goals.
The book presentation was attended by several dignitaries including the state Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu.
