By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
It was a gathering of the creme de la creme that converged at the International Conference Centre, Garki, Abuja to witness the 2023 graduation, speech and prize giving ceremony of Pacesetters Schools, Abuja.
The occasion, which had in attendance parents, students and pupils of Pacesetters Schools, also had as guests political leaders, business moguls, traditional rulers, industrialists, lovers of education and other array of personalities across the divide that graced the occasion.
Speakers after speakers praised the founder of the prestigious education establishment, Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon for believing and investing in the Nigeria project by building future leaders for the country through his massive investment in the educational sector.
They challenged other Nigerians, especially those aspiring for public offices, to show clearly what impact or contributions they have made to better the society and noted that public or political offices are not for personal aggrandizement but for service.
The Keynote Speaker and Labour Party(LP), Presidential candidate in the last general election, Peter Gregory Obi, stated that poverty and insecurity remained significant obstacles that undermine efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, estimated at over 18.5 million.
Obi said insecurity was caused by poverty and pulling people out of poverty is key to reducing criminality.
The former Anambra State Governor noted that deliberate investment in education was necessary to achieve this goal.
Obi said that addressing poverty and insecurity in Nigeria is crucial for increasing access to education and reducing the number of out-of-school children.
He noted that poverty and insecurity were significant obstacles that undermine efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. He said education is the most important thing any nation needs.
He cited various studies that demonstrated how education differentiated development and underdevelopment, adding that education is essential for human development, health and increasing the nation’s per capita income.
Obi stated that without an educated society, it would be impossible to have a healthy society or lift people out of poverty. He recalled that during a meeting with development experts involved in advocacy across the 36 states, he discussed the problem of security in Nigeria.
The LP Presidential flagbearer stressed the critical importance of education and highlighted the alarming statistics that UNESCO reported. He compared this number to the combined populations of countries like Norway, Iceland, Singapore and Dubai, which were less than 20 million.
Barrister Imansuangbon, who is the Proprietor of the Pacesetters Schools, Abuja and who is eyeing the governorship position of Edo State in 2024 on the platform of the LP encouraged the students to understand the value of patience and perseverance and represent the country as ambassadors.
He said, “We have trained them well. They should go out and represent the country as ambassadors, they are the future of Nigeria.”
Imansuangbon said Nigeria needs change and he believes the training they had received put them in a better position to represent the country because they are the future of Nigeria.
The Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Hameen Nuhu Sanusi, lamented the falling standard of education in the nation. He stressed the need to rebuild the nation to halt the popular “japa” syndrome.
He noted that if Barrister Imansuangbon becomes the Governor of Edo State he would promote the standard of education in the state, to serve as a model to other states.