An Israeli researcher and President of Galilee Institute of Israel, Dr Joseph Shevel, has attributed the low investment in education by Nigerian leaders to absence of long-term endowment, saying that in their quest for quick returns, the country’s political leaders avoid the education sector, which takes a longer time to mature.

Addressing participants at the third International Conference, organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Shevel portrayed education as the future for any nation, because of its ripple effect on all sectors of human endeavour.

He noted that for a nation to be on the right path to development, its budget for education must meet the basic international standard in line with the Dakar Recommendation.

Shevel, who is a member of Israeli Prime Minister’s Committee on Social Policy, regretted that while the recommendation hinged on education budget not being less than 5 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Nigeria’s budget for education has been hinging on 15 per cent.

His words: “The crisis facing Nigeria is an opportunity for the nation to go back to the basics. The country’s problem is an interim situation that could be overcome with hard work and determination. There is no reason for Nigeria to be among the world’s poorest nations, going by the enormous resources she is endowed with. The rivers in Nigeria are enough for the country to have fish (for local consumption) and for export. The land resources are enough to grow crops that can feed the whole of Africa. What is required is the will to do what is necessary.”

The Israeli technocrat, therefore, called on Nigerian leaders to realise that the key to improving the situation was by engaging in research and collaborating with renowned research institutes in the world to share ideas.

On his part, dean of the faculty, Prof Jude Ezeokana, pointed out that technology promises wondrous possibilities and profound dislocations: “At a time when knowledge is growing in importance in addressing world’s pressing problems, it is imperative for us to concern ourselves with how we can tap into the opportunities provided by technology and how we can maximise the potentials afforded by the new media technologies for the development of our country’s human, technological, institutional, organisational and resource capabilities.”

•Photo shows Dr Joseph Shevel.

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