By MARGARET TIZA, Abuja –
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sunudu, has called on the leadership of President’s School Debate Nigeria to widen the scope of the activities of the body to cover debating on topical issues like security, unity, climate change and promotion of entrepreneurship amongst other critical challenges that require attention and advocacy.
He made the call in Abuja on Friday when leaders of the President’s School Debate Nigeria paid him a courtesy call in his office.
While commending the leadership of the body for the salient achievements it had recorded in promoting schools debate in the country, the minister highlighted the importance of the debate to students, including building confidence, helping to encourage parents to think together with their children, developing critical thinking of an average child in Nigeria and, “promoting the unity of the nation especially as the country is becoming too polarized along ethnic and regional interests.”
The Minister of State in a group photograph with the leadership of President’s School Debate Nigeria
Dr. Sunudu also stressed the need for the involvement of both public and private schools in the President’s Schools Debate Nigeria, pledging the readiness of the Ministry of Education to support the body in terms of funding and inclusion of their activities and programmes in the ministry’s budgetary provisions in the subsequent years.
In his words: “I want to commend the leadership of President’s School Debate Nigeria on their tract record so far. The initiative of bringing our children together for debate has positive impact in our society today. It builds confidence in our children, promote critical thinking of an average child in Africa, unite the country because the country is becoming too polarized.
“There is need to involve other sectors both Public and Private schools in the Country to debate on topical issues like Security, Unity of purpose of our children, both local and international, help parents to think together with their children among others.”
Earlier, the Director of Basic Education, Dr. Mrs. Olutunji David, updated the Minister on the involvement of the Ministry on the School Debate.
The Director , Senior Schools Education Department (DSSE) in the ministry, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir also added that the Public Schools Debates programme had helped to wipe the phobia of public speech.
In his remarks, the Chairman, President’s School Debate Nigeria, Hon. Muhammed Usman, appreciated the Minister for his support since he came on board.
Hon Usman, who is a former House of Representatives Member, explained that the purpose of the courtesy visit was to update the Minister of State on the activities of President’s School Debate Nigeria.
He stressed the significance of the School Debate, adding that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Senior Secondary Education Department of the Ministry, the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federal (OSGF), and other bodies had been partnering with the organisation to carry out its activities.
Others dignitaries present at the ceremony included Elder Dare Oritu (National Coordinator), Dr. Eunice Bosua (Programme Coordinator), Samuel Sadfu (Director Logistics), Osanyinpeju Edith (Deputy Director, BSE) and, Mrs. Ijeoma Uchewinke (Deputy Director, Primary Education).
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