NNMDA D-G commits to promoting educational values, youth devt.
By Ijeoma Olorunfemi
Prof. Martins Emeje, Director-General of Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA), has expressed his commitment to adding more value to the education sector and promoting youth development for a better society.
Emeje gave the commitment during his conferment with a National Outstanding Award as ‘Vanguard of Good Leadership and Epitome of Hope’ by National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in Abuja.
He said that given his humble educational background, he understood how needful it would be to make the educational system less burdensome for students.
Emeje also said that it was time for an overhaul of school curricula, alleging that Nigeria was still deploying outdated curriculum against the 21st century realities.
“Being in this position can only accord me the opportunity to make my contributions toward finding ways to better the educational system.
“NANS has the population and you are the end-users of the curriculum, meaning that whatever you don’t want should not be there.
“You need to utilise that number to engage stakeholders meaningfully,” he said.
Emeje said that he decided to accept the award, amidst many award offers, because of his disposition toward youth development, saying that he had always exhibited this in his engagements.
“When the youth pick you up on anything, if it is bad, they are right and if it is good, they are right; they are the most vulnerable people and the vulnerable people see things better.
“Consider me as one of you and I will be committed to the development of the country through NANS,” he said.
Earlier, Vice-President of NANS, Abdullahi Bilal, stressed the urgent need for the government to invest in the education system in order not to jeopardise the future of no fewer than 40.1 million members of the association.
Bilal said: “We need to increase the budgetary allocation of education, address the issue of out-of-school children in the country and ensure that the introduction of student loan by President Bola Tinubu is implemented to benefit Nigerian students and not targeted at commercialising public education,” he said.
He also expressed worries over what he called outdated curricula, stressing “our curricula should be directed toward solving the problems of the Nigerian nation.”
He said that NANS had always championed the course of advancing education in the country and would continue in that regard.
Bilal said that Emeje was chosen for the award because he had shown a trajectory that promoted youth development and that he had made meaningful contributions to the Pharmacy profession, among other interventions. (NAN)
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq
Published By
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Editor/Assistant Chief Correspondent,
FCT Correspondent,
NAN Abuja.
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