UBEC, ASUBEB Intensify Advocacy for Compulsory Basic Education in Nnewi North
By Nkiru Anakor
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), in collaboration with the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), has intensified advocacy for the effective implementation of compulsory basic education in Nnewi North Local Government Area.
The advocacy team visited the Nnewi North Local Government Secretariat on Sept. 11, where it engaged education stakeholders, town union leaders and school heads on strategies to ensure that every child in the area is enrolled in school and has access to quality basic education.
Addressing the stakeholders, the UBEC representative, Mr Abagha Sorochi, stressed that basic education is a fundamental right and should not be treated as a privilege. He reaffirmed UBEC’s commitment to collaborating with state and local governments to reduce the number of out-of-school children while promoting improved learning outcomes across the country.
Also speaking, the ASUBEB representative, Mrs Mercy Ifeanyi, commended the Anazodo-led administration in Nnewi North for its support for schools and teachers.She urged parents, guardians and community leaders to take ownership of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act by ensuring that children of school age are enrolled in school and protected from activities such as hawking during school hours.
Mrs Ifeanyi further emphasised the need for parents and communities to support the education system by ensuring that children have uninterrupted access to primary and junior secondary education.
Responding, the Chairman of Nnewi North LGA, Hon. Echezona Anazodo, described education as the foundation for the development of any progressive society.
He assured the UBEC and ASUBEB officials of the council’s continued cooperation, noting that his administration had prioritised infrastructure upgrades in schools, teacher welfare and enrolment campaigns across the wards.
Hon. Anazodo also called on Ndi Nnewi to embrace the philosophy of “Think Home and invest in our children,” stressing that human capacity development remained a major priority of his administration and was in line with the Solution Agenda of the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
