UNIVERSITY EDUCATION NOT FOR EVERYONE, GOVERNOR UMAHI
We have come across a misleading publication in some quarters of the media with the caption, “University education not for everybody” and credited to the Chairman of Southeast Governors' Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE.
Ordinarily, we could have not responded to it but for clarity and benefit of unsuspecting members of the Public, we have elected to react.
1. The statement above is misleading in content and depicts a reverse meaning of the position of the Governor.
2. Governor Umahi advocated for every child to attain Secondary Education and Vocational learning as a benchmark for basic education in the country. This is to equip everyone, especially the less privileged with a survival kit that will enable such individuals to start earning before proceeding to higher education. It is highly in practice in many developed countries. Quoting him, “Every country strives to get at least secondary and vocational education as basic education. One can start up something and or get employed and have means to aspire to higher education.”
3. The Governor equally called for an upward review of the standard of the university education system in the country to bring about an optimal performance of the graduates.
4. On the side of ASUU, Governor Umahi called on both the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU to shift grounds and meet at a common ground to resolve the lingering strike by the ASUU.
5. Bear in mind that Governor Umahi is a lover of education which he exemplified by constructing the best Medical University in Nigeria today – David Umahi University of Medical Sciences, the establishment of King David Vocational School, King David Gifted Academy, properly equipped and construction of both Teachers Quarters and Classroom Block for schools in Ebonyi State.
6. The public is by this clarification enjoined to ignore the wrongly presented and misleading headline and see through the true position of Governor Umahi.