TheCable

The house of representatives has announced it will hold a national summit on education reform between November 22 and 23.

Femi Gbajabiamila, the speaker of the house of representatives, announced this on the floor of the green chamber on Monday while addressing his colleagues who resumed from a six-week break.

The lawmakers had embarked on the six weeks break to enable various committees carry out legislative work on the 2023 budget proposal presented by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Over the years, academic staff of the nation’s tertiary institutions have been embarking on strike over several issues including demands for improved funding for universities and salary review.

Gbajabiamila said the national summit with the theme: ‘Reimagining Tertiary Education in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Solutions’ will generate solutions to challenges facing the nation’s tertiary education sector.

Gbajabiamila said the house remains committed to realising its legislative agenda across all priority areas. 

“As part of that effort, the house will convene a national summit on tertiary education reform.

“The summit is an opportunity to begin the long overdue national conversation about the future of public tertiary education in Nigeria.”

Gbajabiamila said scholars, tertiary education administrators, and local and international stakeholders have been invited to submit papers on the theme of the summit.

He said the presentations and submissions will inform the policy recommendations of the summit which will be published in a journal for policy action and academic reference.

“So far, public interest both within and outside Nigeria has been impressive,” Gbajabiamila said.

“The most consequential decisions we make in government are those that will ensure the vast population of young people in our country are educated and adequately equipped to participate productively in the modern global economy.

“To achieve this, we must ask and answer complex questions about the operating structure of our public tertiary institutions, sustainable funding, education quality and access.”

Gbajabiamila asked lawmakers to participate in the “crucial national conversation” so that experience and expertise can inform the policy recommendations that will emerge from the summit.