Journalists urged to expose rot in education sector
EDDY OCHIGBO, Kaduna
Journalists and media practitioners in Kaduna state have again been called upon to be more committed in the campaign to eradicate corruption and sharp practices bedeviling the procurement process of the state’s education in particular and the country at large.
Executive Director, Legal Awareness for Nigerian women LANW/LEADS Nigeria, Barrister Rebecca Sako-John, who made the on behalf of her organization, said although some progress has been made in the troubled sector, a lot of work to move it forward is required.
Sako who was speaking at a-one day review meeting with the media, urged media practitioners not to relent in the campaign to restore sanity in the nation’s education sector.
The event, tagged: “Strengthening Accountability and Transparency in Nigeria Education Sector (STATNES)”, put together by LEADS/LANW in collaboration with Mac Arthur Foundation at BBS Diamond Suites in Kaduna touched on, among others, strategies to track education projects in the state.
Sako-John said the role of the media in the corruption fight in the education sector cannot be underestimated as the media holds the key to exposing any corrupt practice in the sector.
She praised the efforts of the media for working tirelessly with the civil society towards the overall development of the country’s education sector.
While commenting on the task before the media, the Executive Director of Open Kaduna Radio, Joshua James, used the opportunity to share some of his experiences in the course of exposing some corrupt practices by contractors executing SUBEB projects in Kaduna state.
Other participants expressed satisfaction with LEADS Nigeria and Mac Arthur Foundation for working towards improving the nation’s education sector.
Highlight of the event was a one minute silence observed in honor of the late Chief Dominic Uzu, former secretary of the NUJ, Kaduna state chapter, who lost his life in a ghastly auto crash along Kaduna-Zaria road a fortnight.