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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
The Association of Retired Principals of Secondary Schools of Nigeria (ARPSSON) has called on the Federal Government to establish a Ministry for the Elderly, similar to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to harness the wealth of experience possessed by retired educationists and professionals across the nation.
Speaking at the 4th Biennial State Congress of the Association in Lagos, Mr. Shodeinde Karmal, Convener of ARPSSON and outgoing President of the Lagos Chapter emphasized that retired principals remain a vital national resource that should not be neglected.
“After retirement, many people become lonely and disconnected. That loneliness brings boredom,” Karmal said. “I initiated this association so that after service, we can still be active and useful to our communities. Why should we be isolated when we still have so much to contribute?”
He stressed that retired principals had successfully managed large numbers of staff and students during their active years and should not be sidelined in national planning and policy execution.
“A principal can manage over 50,000 students and graduates in a single school environment. How many ministries can handle that? We are experienced administrators — our knowledge should not be wasted,” he added.
The congress, themed “Family Role in Breaking the Chain of Drug Addiction,” focused on tackling the growing menace of substance abuse among youths.
Karmal, who also works as an advocate against substance abuse with the United Nations, explained that many young people fall into drug addiction due to frustration, depression, and peer influence.
“Some of these youths use drugs to console themselves because of life’s pressures. Families must play a stronger role in curbing this menace,” he stated.
He called for a review the education sector, particularly in curriculum design, to better reflect modern technological skills and soft skills required for national development.
Reacting to reports of attempts to downgrade Mathematics from a core subject to an elective, Karmal expressed strong disapproval.
“Mathematics is fundamental. How can we scrap it as a core subject? We deal with data and calculations every day — even applied sciences depend on it,” he argued.
He lamented the overemphasis on certificates in the country, noting that many PhD holders remain in offices doing research instead of engaging in practical fieldwork that drives innovation.
“Our education system must value experience and application, not just paper qualifications,” he said. “We should learn from countries like China that built from scratch through practical skill and discipline.”
Guest speaker at event, Dr. Adetolu Olatunde who delivered a paper,” Family role in breaking the chain of drugs addiction” said that families must take the lead role in breaking the chain of drug addiction, rather than leaving affected individuals to face the struggle alone.
Dr. Olatunde emphasized that many people wrongly label those battling drug addiction as “bad children,” a misconception rooted in the negative behaviours often associated with substance abuse.
“People feel those involved with drugs are bad children,” he said. “This is due to the behaviour associated with drugs. Once parents identify such a child, the family should get involved and assist them in the recovery process.”
Olatunde urged families, religious institutions, and communities to collaborate in providing emotional and psychological support to addicts rather than stigmatizing them.
