The governor recently announced free education and resuscitation of boarding facilities in one secondary school in each of the 31 local governments in the state beginning from the 2008/2009 session.
Empowerment Resource International, a non-government organization, noted in its 2009 Projection Report that after a similar “all-encompassing free education by the Unity Party of Nigeria— controlled South-Western states between 1979 and 1984— millions of Nigerians have been deprived of qualitative education because of lack of means.”
In the same vein, Lagos State chapter of the Akwa Ibom Traders Union has called on all peasant farmers, fishermen, commercial motorcyclists and petty traders in Akwa Ibom to seize the opportunity of the free education program to send their children back to school for a better future.
The ERI report made available to newsmen in Lagos on Monday and signed by the group’s country director, Dr. George Ogunlana, noted that a distinguishing factor between the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and many other Nigerian leaders was the late sage’s ability to empower and cater for the poor through free education.
“That was one thing that endeared him to the heart of many Nigerians and world leaders. But after the military take-over in 1984, Nigerians have had to pay through their nose to acquire basic education with the states offering some interventions characterized by fraud and deceit,” the report noted.
It therefore commended Akpabio for revisiting “such a novel initiative” and admonished him to pursue the goal with utmost sincerity and commitment.
The traders union in a press statement by its President, Mrs. Idongesit Essien, noted that most cases of child labor resulted from the inability of the parents to fund their children education.
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