From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has challenged governments at all levels and individuals to champion the cause of quality and affordable education, stressing that only education can guarantee the speedy development of Nigeria.
He added that it remains the only reliable channel through which the people can be empowered to talk freely, dream big, and fight for their rights, financially, politically, and otherwise.
As a keynote speaker at the graduation and prize-giving day of Pacesetters’ School, yesterday, in Abuja, Atiku maintained that education is a crucial component required to unlock the huge potential of the citizens, ensure national unity, stability, and socioeconomic development.
He appreciated the school for continuously setting the pace in the education sector over the years, appealing to other individuals to consider investing in Nigeria’s education sector, thus providing the means for human liberation and empowerment.
“I congratulate my friend and founder of the school, Kenneth Imansuangbon, for investing in human capital development. There’s no better investment than education. It empowers individuals to become engineers, doctors, or whatever profession they choose.
“I commend the Pacesetters Schools’ noble cause and challenge them to expand from nursery, primary, and secondary school to university. I equally congratulate the graduating students, and I am thrilled to see some of my own graduates among them.
“I sincerely thank the Chairman for inviting me to this historic event, which aligns with my passion for education. I had stated before now that even in retirement, I look forward to returning to university.”
He made reference to the US Peace Corps and relating to the Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as well as his personal experience from 1961 when American Peace Corps teachers were deployed to his secondary school in Northern Nigeria to fill the gap left by departing British teachers. “It significantly impacted my education and inspired me to adopt an American curriculum in my schools.”
Chairman Pacesetters’ School, Kenneth Imansuangbon, said the school was committed to producing independent-minded individuals who could create their own opportunities rather than waiting for white-collar jobs.
He disclosed that the school management was already considering the challenge of expanding to the university system to help provide holistic education opportunities for Nigerians from, perhaps, the kindergarten to the university.
Imansuangbon emphasised the importance of education in shaping individuals and society, maintaining that Pacesetters’ school was driven by a goal to refine students and equip them with the skills necessary to make a positive impact in society.
The School Director, Kate Imansuangbon, said the secret behind the success of the school over the years was commitment, dedication and the deep desire to produce a new generation of leaders that would bring solutions to global challenges, economically, politically, and otherwise.
She appreciated the management team of the school, the teachers, and the parents for entrusting their children in the care of the school, promising that more efforts would be deployed to provide more quality education for them
Lawmaker representing Abia Central in the National Assembly, Senator Augustine Akobundu; wife of the governor of Zamfara State, Hajiya Dauda Lawal; former National Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Dan Nwanyanwu, were among dignitaries at the event.
The event also featured a special award to the mother of the Chairman of the School, Mrs. Elizabeth Imansuangbon.