By HK Tijjani, Maiduguri
Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended the North East Development Commission (NEDC) for its investment in education through the Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme (ASSEP), describing it as a “game changer” in the region.
Speaking during a meeting with the NEDC management at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday, the Vice President said,
“I want to commend the management of NEDC, the ministry, and, of course, Dr. Masha for doing an awesome job and promoting ASSEP. There are two things that the North East Development Commission is committed to that posterity will judge them kindly.”
“Yes, intervention in infrastructure is good, but this ASSEP and the likely investments in green technology will fully change the landscape.”
He particularly applauded the use of Virtual Reality (VR) headsets in the ASSEP program, stating, “We can truly leapfrog into the industrial age.”
The Vice President emphasised the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders, including the NEDC, the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, and other relevant agencies, to ensure the successful implementation of ASSEP.
“I want to thank you. You may be buffeted with a lot of criticisms; uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. It (NEDC) is one of the most buoyant organisations in the country, and people expect the NEDC to be like drunken sailors on a spending spree,” the Vice President said.
He further stressed the urgency of addressing poverty in the North East, stating, “The North East of Nigeria is one of the poorest places on earth. The World Bank described the northeast of Nigeria, the Republic of Chad, the Darfur region of Sudan, the Republic of Niger, and Northern Cameroon as some of the poorest places on earth, hence the emergence of militant organisations like the Janjaweed militia and Boko Haram.”
The Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, highlighted the government’s commitment to improving learning standards nationwide.
“It is a cardinal objective of this administration, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to focus on capacity building, scholarships for indigent students, and the upgrading of essential education infrastructure and ICT tools,” Minister Ahmadu stated.
The Managing Director of NEDC, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, outlined the commission’s efforts to revive teacher training and education in the region, including the establishment of mega schools, 18 ICT training centres, and collaborations with the National Teachers Institute.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of VR headsets to the Vice President by the NEDC MD and Dr. Mariam Masha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development Programmes.