By Sarah NEGEDU
Stakeholders in the education sector have called for increased government investment in the sector, warning that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful national development without prioritising learning at all levels.
The appeal was made in Abuja during the public presentation of a book titled “Education as a Tool for National Development,” where participants examined how education can drive national transformation.
Author of the book, Miss Mary Ibifuro, said her work challenges misconceptions that undermine the value of education, emphasizing inclusion, gender equality, and lifelong learning as pathways to sustainable development and citizens’ empowerment.
She insisted that education is not a scam, explaining that informed societies emerge when knowledge is applied effectively to build skills, strengthen institutions, and transform communities.
Ibifuro noted that education aligned with industry, innovation, technology, research, and the revitalization of tertiary institutions is central to achieving Africa’s Vision 2063.
She also appealed to the Federal Government to address the rising cost of instructional materials and other barriers limiting access to learning, warning that vulnerable children risk being left behind without decisive action.
“This book, ‘Education as a Tool for National Development’ is written from the conviction that every society’s strength, peace, and prosperity depend on the minds it nurtures.
“This book presents education as more than classroom learning. It is the foundation of national transformation, a force that shapes values, drives innovation, and builds the human capital upon which all development rests,” Ibifuro said.
Deputy Director in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation and Chairman of the Furo Revive and Educate Trust Foundation, Mr. Sunday Akor, lauded Ibifuro’s call for inclusive education and charity, saying it reignites purpose.
Reviewing the book, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Ogoni, Rivers State, Prof. Chinedu Mmom, said the book X-rays how education can serve as a cornerstone of human development, an engine that fuels economic productivity, social cohesion, and moral advancement that translate into societal progress.
“The approach is critical to repositioning our institutions to produce graduates who can create jobs, drive enterprise, and engineer sustainable change,” Prof. Mmom said.
He commending Ibifuro’s commitment to promoting education for all, and urged other young Nigerians to pursue their ideas with commitment.
