Anyaoku Berates Nigerian Govt For Not Doing Enough For Education

By Chunks Eke

Chief Emeka Anayaoku, the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, has firmly declared that the Nigerian federal government is underinvesting in the country’s educational system, which is the reason why a higher proportion of our youths lack literacy.

He remarked that, but to no avail, he had anticipated the federal government administrations of the past and present to have made sufficient arrangements for our youngsters to obtain a basic education before pursuing other crafts or careers.

Speaking yesterday at the Emeka and Bunmi Anayaoku Foundation Center’s commissioning ceremony, Anyaoku said that if the government had increased funding for education and strictly enforced it, the number of young people without formal education would not have increased as it does now. Anyaoku lives in Obosi, in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state.

Anayaoku, who also celebrated his 91st birthday on the occasion, gave the following explanation for why he chose to establish the foundation and build its centre in his country house in Obosi: “I chose to build my foundation centre in Obosi, my home town as a demonstration of my attachment and regard for my people.”

“Because the government of Nigeria has not been doing enough for the education

sector, the commissioning of this edifice here today is a fulfillment of my determination to plow my lifetime savings wisely”.

According to him, the centre houses a wide range of departments, such as computer training, skill acquisition, and scholarship programmes, among others, to prepare people both technically and otherwise and provide job prospects.

Anyaoku, whom he recognised as a core diplomat, was praised by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who established the centre, for thinking outside the box and supporting his administration’s declared goal of raising the state’s educational standards.

Soludo, flanked by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, urged other responsible citizens of the state to emulate Anayaoku in all ramifications.