Prof. Peter Akah, Acting Vice Chancellor, Imo State University Owerri, has called for increased budgetary allocation to education as a panacea for most the sector’s challenges.
Akah made the call in Owerri on Monday while addressing newsmen after he received an award for Excellence in Leadership from Pan-African Association of Scholars of Humanities And Social Sciences (PASHASS).
The scholar, also a Consultant Pharmacologist with the United Nations Development Programme said that only 2.6 per cent of 2022 budget had been allocated to the education sector.
“United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recommends a minimum of 26 per cent budgetary allocation to education but what we have in the proposed year 2022 budget is 2.6 per cent; this is a far cry and we can do better to improve the sector,’’ he said.
He said improved funding could reduce friction between labour unions in the sector and the Federal Government which usually arise from lack of funds to pay allowances and other entitlements to the workers.
Akah, however, urged PASHASS not to relent in identifying Pan-African scholars worldwide and bringing them together for the benefit of the continent’s education.
“Wealth is gradually going intellectual and my advice is that you continue to bring Pan African scholars together so that we can develop our continent and the world at large “, he said.
Earlier, while presenting the award, Prof. Abah Ikwue, from Alvan Ikoku College of Education and PASHASS President, extolled the hard work and commitment to duty of the recipient.
Ikwue said other members of the association, including three professors were among those who nominated Akah for the award, adding that the winner was deserving of the award.
“We followed him up from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, where he worked for several years before coming to Imo State University”, he said and can attest to his dedication to academic excellence”, he said. (NAN)
