Immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has called for the declaration of a state of emergency on education. He made the call yesterday at Muson a Centre, Lagos, during the 105th anniversary of the founding of King’s College, Lagos. Obi was at the event as Special Guest to share experiences on how he was able to turn education around when he was the governor of Anambra State drawing from the fact that from near-failure before he became governor, the state now takes first position in external examinations.

Speaking, Obi said that Nigeria needs a completely new approach to education. Using statistics, he proved that Nigeria spends more money in education than many countries that comparatively do better than Nigeria. He said the problem is principally that only 20% of the money released gets to the final destination.

On how he was able to turn education around for the country to learn from that, he said that in his first four years, he did everything, including pumping money into education but with little success.

“In my second tenure, I realised that we need to approach it differently. In defiance to all opposition, I returned schools to the missionary owners, schools that were forcefully taken from them in 1970, which was a very irresponsible decision. After the return, we kept paying both the tutorial and non-tutorial staff. We also released over N6 billion for the rehabilitation of the schools,” Obi said.

Speaking on other measures initiated by his Government to boost education, Obi said that he made all possible efforts to ensure that at least 90% of the money spent on education got to the schools.

“Besides compelling development agencies to take their grants directly to the schools to circumvent numerous ‘toll gates’, we also gave money running into several billions directly to the schools to equip their libraries, provide sick bays, rebuild and equip their laboratories. This was in addition to the provision of over 500 buses, generators, internet connectivity, Microsoft academies, among others to all the public and missionary-owned schools in the State.

Chaired by Chief Philip Asiodu, the event was graced by Kalu Idika Kalu, Okey Ezibe, Turner Coker, Demola Aladekomo, Hakeem Bello-Osagie, Mustapha Chike-Obi and Herbert Okumagba, among others.

•Photo shows Mustapha Chike-Obi (middle), with Sen. Udo Udoma, (left) shortly before the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi ( right), shared his experience on how he was able to make Anambra the number one in education in Nigeria . . . yesterday at Muson Centre, during the 105th anniversary of the founding of King’s College, Lagos.