The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has decried the deplorable infrastructural condition in public primary schools and other basic educational institutions in Nigeria, which has led to upsurge in enrollment in private schools and deepening inequality amongst the citizenry.
The SSAP in her opening speech at the Quarterly Meeting of the State Focal Persons and Monitoring Supervision and Data Consultants in Abuja, informed that, in view of her conviction that education will guarantee the future of Nigerian children, she will ensure that an appreciable percentage of SDGs CGS funds for the current year is expended on comprehensive renovation of existing dilapidated primary schools and construction of new classroom where necessary.
She lamented the situation in the past, where schools were constructed without necessary infrastructure such as recreational area, playing ground, proper toilet, clean water and affordable energy source, which could attract pupil’s enrollment and fencing of the school environment to enhance security of lives and properties.
The SSAP reiterated the danger in deepening inequality and affirmed her belief that child education will address most of the other goals of SDGs indirectly. She therefore implored states and local governments benefitting from SDGs CGS funds to focus attention on providing befitting primary schools conducive for proper learning.
Also, she asked SDGs MSD consultants to ensure that qualified contractors were awarded contracts for construction of the classrooms projects in order to ensure that it stands the test of time.
