By Olugbengap Salami
Senate has advised Nigerian children to see education as their right and not a privilege as aimed by the Universal Basic Education Act, 2004.
The Red Chamber, which gave the appeal on Wednesday at an occasion to commemorate the 2024 Universal Children’s Day Celebration organized by its Committee on Women Affairs in Abuja, urged the children to make best out of education.
Separate speeches made at the event by many of the serving Senators centred on the need for the children to make education their right and not viewed it as privilege since Universal Basic Education Act 2004, made basic education free and compulsory.
Specifically in her speech, the chairman of Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP FCT) told children from eight different public schools in Abuja that attended the ceremony that they are the future of Nigeria whose greatness lies in the knowledge they acquire now.
“You are the future of this country. There is no Nigeria without you and therefore, we must invest our energy and time and resources in making sure that you are the best version of yourselves through quality education because you are the ones that are going to ensure that Nigeria is great again,” she said.
In her remarks, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP Kogi Central) pointedly declared that education is the students’ right and not privilege.
She said: “The Universal Basic Education Act, 2004 made basic education free and compulsory, which must be followed with required enforcement by government at all levels.”
“Is not enough to have an Act and not followed it up with required actions, policies and programmes, some of which are establishment of schools in all localities, employment of enough qualified and well trained teachers as well as provision of basic educational materials like text books, digital libraries for the students.”
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan added by telling the students to voice out any concerns inhibiting their access to quality education.
Other serving Senators like Adetokunbo Abiru (APC Lagos East), Neda Imasuen (LP Edo South), Banigo Ipalibo (PDP Rivers West) and Anthony Ani (APC Ebonyi South) also gave goodwill messages at the event on the need for the children to make the best from educational acquisition and government to provide quality education for all children.
The President of Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntola also added her voice to the need for children to take education more seriously.
“Let me also use this opportunity to implore our children to embrace education and skills acquisition with dedication and discipline.
“Your determination to learn and grow is the key to unlocking your potentials and contributing meaningfully to the development of our country,” she said.