While hopes have been somewhat rekindled on the wheels of the CHANGE that took over governance in Nigeria with modified focus and awakened consciousness both on the side of the government and that of the governed, democracy in Nigeria has turned out more promising than ever before. This is not limited to the federal level; the state governments have also set on the mark of renewed era.

Although the government, at all levels, is still faced with daunting challenges, it’s been argued however, that encounters have the potency of bringing out the greatness in the dared and making them rise above the circumstances, most particularly when addressed with undaunted determination.

Let me say, without fear or favour, that it’s interesting to come across Kwara on the list of states taking actionable steps to rehabilitate its economy. However, the latest measures by the state government bordering on socio-economic and infrastructural development wouldn’t have sounded meaningful to me if education had been exempted.

I believe, and I so strongly do, that nothing good can come out of a state that’s not building its future on the foundation of quality education for the future owners. In the words of Mandela, education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. It’s self-connoting therefore that without education, there can be no substantive change.

Forthrightly, there are lot of deficiencies in our education sector. While most are generic, some others are peculiar to us, as a state. It’s nonetheless unspeakable that Kwara hasn’t bridged the wide gap previously lingering on its educational domain, with applaudable developments witnessed in the recent time.

To charter the cause of how Kwara would not be an exception in the new drive of governance for renewed development (through education), it would be pertinent to underscore the 2016 appropriation bill presented by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to the State Assembly and make evaluations of what the future holds for the coming generation.

In a report, “The Kwara State government has allocated N30.4billion to the Education sector in its 2016 budget, which represents 26.2 per cent of the total budget size, signifying the governments’ commitment to improve the quality of education in the State.

“With this allocation to Education, Kwara has been able to meet the 26 percent UNESCO recommendation for developing countries, which analysts and educationists have always advocated.”

Ranging from infrastructural development to quality of service and welfare of the service providers, government proposes the following:

1. Renovation, equipping, furnishing and fittings for thirty (30) existing secondary schools across the 3 senatorial districts of the state.
2. Education sector-wide portal development and deployment to track the physical infrastructure, teachers’ quality and students’ progress.

In addition to, and expansion of current educational structures, the under-listed are also part of the proposal.

3. 1-   Equipping the International Vocational Technical and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC) Ajasse-Ipo.

4.2- Construction, equipping and fitting of new KWASU College of Agricultural Science in Ilesha-Baruba, Phase I funding.

5.3- Construction, equipping and fitting of new KWASU College of Architectural and Environmental Studies in Osi, Phase I finding.

6. 4-  Construction, equipping and fitting of new KWASU School of Business and Governance in Malete. A total sum of sixteen billion, twenty-four million, seven hundred and sixty-five thousand, five hundred and forty-nine naira only.

Obviously from the above, the target is concise but it is indisputably immense. Kwara would take a giant leap towards a prosperous future if  these could be achieved, unabatedly. Beyond teaching and learning, the aforementioned projects have the potency to build a new state with optimum development. It has the capacity to boost entrepreneurship, agricultural and socio-economic prowess needed for an ideal and viable society.

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Opinion article written by Bisola Animashaun

Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija