Education is the backbone of development. So it is across the world. For a fact, it plays a significant role in the advancement of every society. And, this is not different for Nigeria, especially, in Imo state where Governor Hope Uzodimma has been working tirelessly to create the enabling environment for educational development and progress. Through education, Uzodimma hopes to recreate Imo state and change its story. This, he is doing through Imo State Education Opportunity Programme (ISEOP), which he introduced at the commencement of his leadership of the state. Vision of the programme was to produce a new generation of graduates equipped with modern skills and prepared to add value to society.
Upon assuming office, the governor prioritised the improvement of educational infrastructure and facilities across the state. He launched the rehabilitation and reconstruction of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in the state. This has led to the renovation and revamping of over 300 dilapidated buildings across the educational sector in the state, which has given new life to previously unutilisable structures, though, there is still much to be done like in the case of Secondary Technical School, Dikenafai, which is begging for his attention. This, however, does not suggest that the state government isn’t putting in every effort at providing conducive environment for learning.
Uzodimma also initiated the construction of new school buildings in different communities across the state, including modernizing old structures to fit the 21st-century classroom structure. This expansion of educational infrastructure would help to reduce the rate of out-of-school children and enable more children to obtain an education and a future for themselves.
From public observations, the education sector in Imo state has also benefitted from Governor Uzodimma’s policy to fix the education system to suit modern times. This has enabled the sector to be more technology-driven and practical-oriented. In so doing, students can acquire practical experience through technology tools and other teaching aids. Also, the governor is prioritising the training and retraining of teachers. This includes training and on-going evaluation of curriculum, course content, and certification examinations, to keep them abreast with 21st-century teaching techniques. Teachers, like other civil servants, are also being incentivized through policies that would enhance their wellbeing, and scholarships that would boost the quality of education that they provide to their students. This has led to a boost in the morale of the teachers in the state and an intensified effort to improve the education standards.
In addition to the primary and secondary education sector, the higher education sector in Imo state has also witnessed tremendous progress under Governor Uzodimma. The state now seems to be reaping the benefits of the governor’s interventions in the education sector which has led to increased enrolment though there are concerns over unpaid wages of lecturers in tertiary institutions owned by the state. However, the state government has invested heavily in the redevelopment and upgrading of state universities, including better facilities, libraries, and lecturers.
Governor Uzodimma had also launched special scholarship schemes for indigent students across tertiary institutions in the state. This has enabled underprivileged students to access education and alleviated many of their financial burdens. This action from the governor promotes the spirit of change and helps to reduce the poverty rate, hence increasing access to education for all students.
And, the indicators are turning out positive for the state. For instance, a recent survey by data analytic company, StatiSense in alliance with the Federal Ministry of Education, shows clearly that the state is recording positive marks from investments in the education sector by the state government. Looking at the data as published on X (formerly Twitter), Imo state ranked ranks 36th on the table of out-of-school children in the country with 5.1 percent, coming just ahead of Anambra which is ranked 37th with 2.9 percent. Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara and Bauchi states sit on the top five of the ladder with 67.6 percent, 66.4 percent, 62.9 percent, 61.3 percent and 55.7 percent in that order.
Besides, Imo state also ranks first on the table of state with most students admitted into Nigerian universities to read medicine in 2022 with 512 students followed closely by Anambra with 453 students and Abia with 348 students. Enugu and Osun states complete the top five on the log with 339 and 309 students respectively. Imo state also ranks first on the index of students admitted into Nigerian universities to read mass communication in 2022 with 992 students while Delta state comes closely with 833 and Ogun state with 832 while Anambra and Benue states complete the top five with 811 and 807 students respectively.
Imo state ranks 10th on the index of students admitted into Nigerian universities for business administration with 430 students. Anambra state leads the log with 682 students while Ogun state has 651 students and Osun state on the fourth position with 587 students. However, it ranked first on the index for political science students admitted into Nigerian universities in 2022 with 649 students followed by Benue state with 549 students and Enugu state with 538 students. Rivers state and Anambra state complete the top five with 530 and 524 students respectively. On the log of students admitted in 2022 to study microbiology, Imo ranked second with 1,004 students coming behind Benue state which has 1022 students. Ondo, Anambra and Enugu states complete the top five with 803, 745 and 743 students respectively.
Imo state also topped the chart for students admitted to read law in Nigerian universities in 2022 with 448 students followed by Delta state with 437 students while Abia, Anambra and Osun states joined the top five on the ladder with 407, 337 and 298 students respectively. But the accounting and accountancy students’ admission log was led by Osun with 1,026 students. Imo state placed third on this log with 820 students behind Ogun state which had 932 students. Delta and Osun states made up the top five with 809 and 781 students each. Imo state also ranked number three on the log for economics students returning 569 students behind Oyo state with 616 students and Ogun state with 580 students while Anambra state posted 500 students and Kogi, 408 students to make up the top five. Added to this is the fact that Imo state posted 1,501 students to retain the top spot on the list of states with highest 2022 admissions to read computer science in Nigerian universities. Delta and Anambra states trailed in second and third places with 1386 and 1346 students while Ogun and Oyo states made up the top five with1260 and 11633 students.
Though the survey did not capture all other courses, the statistics released so far, however, indicates that investment made by the Imo state government in the education sector is yielding fruits. Despite these, much more needs to be done. It is obvious that the significant strides of the state government in the educational sector have elevated the standard of learning in the state, leading to improved learning outcomes and better opportunities for students as the StatiSense survey showed. These leaps require sustained effort and consolidated political will to keep Imo state on this good path which will help it achieve the required and anticipated development as education remains a veritable tool for growth.