By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
Abuja-The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu has inaugurated governing boards of 19 parastatals and two universities under the Federal Ministry of Education.
In his inauguration address on Thursday in Abuja, Mallam Adamu urged the governing boards and council members to carry out their assignments with professionalism, dedication, sincerity and patriotism.
He congratulated them for being found worthy of the position by president Muhammadu Buhari and also thanked them for accepting to serve.
In his words, “With your appointment as governing boards, I expect you to play your roles with skill and efficiency. You must be courageous,you must be innovative and responsible. You are expected to provide governance and the type of leadership that will engender transparency and accountability as well as support the pursuit of the mandate of your agencies”.
He further called on them to live by example, be disciplined, work hard and promote hard work in discharging their responsibilities.
The Minister also announced that the Federal Ministry of Education has commenced the implementation of its ministerial plan 2016 to 2019 and urged the boards to study and know the content of the plan.
“Finally, in the name of God and on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, I inaugurate you today” he said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah noted that the governing boards’ members are people who have distinguished themselves and so they have strategic roles to play to ensure easy access to education without compromising standard and quality.
Anwukah stated that the governing boards and Councils must ensure that the education system is equipped with the relevant knowledge to drive the change mantra and called on them to work assiduously towards making Nigeria a better country.
Some of the Chairmen of some governing boards includes: Prof. Ayo Banjo, NUC board; Zaynab Alkali,
National Library board; Dr. Abubakar Siddique,National Examination Council(NECO); Dr. Mahmud Abubakar,Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC; Dr. Gidado Bello Akko, National Commission for Mass literacy; Prof Gidado Tahir,Normadic Education Commission.
Others are; National Business and Technical Education Board .Prof. Leonard Kashima; Teachers registration Council of Nigeria, Prof. Adamu Baike; National Commission for Colleges of Education, Alhaji Maigari; Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Chief Emeka Nwajiuba; National Teachers Institute, Senator Kaka Mallam Yale; National Mathematical Centre, Prof. Buba Bajoga
Also inaugurated are boards of National Institute of Nigerian Languages, Chief Nkwo Nnabuchi; Research and Education Council, Chief Paul Unongo; Nigerian French Language Village, Badagry; National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; National Arabic Language Village Maiduguri, Prof. O. Oladusi; National Institute for Nigerian Languages and Nigerian Maritime University Okerenkoko, Chief Timipriye Silva.
For the governing councils, Prof. Peter Okebukola as chairman for National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe for Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Responding, on behalf of Universities, Board Chairman, NUC, Prof. Ayo Banjo noting with dismay that hardly any Nigerian university measures up to the first 500 globally, promised that they will do all they can to raise standard in their universities and to satisfy the various stakeholders and place the universities on the world map.
Also, responding on behalf of parastatals, the Board Chairman, TETFund, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba stated that they will rededicate themselves to the service of the country and appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Education for the recognition, opportunity and call to service.
