Participants in a one-day Ebonyi Education Stakeholders Summit have advocated investment in education as the panacea to the incessant conflicts, violence and crises rocking Nigeria as a nation.

The summit was organised under the Accountability for Good Governance in Education cluster programme, supported by the USAID – Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement project.

It was hosted on Wednesday in Abakaliki by an NGO, Development and Integrity Intervention Goal Foundation, in collaboration with Youthhub-Africa and the Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board.

The summit was part of activities marking the 2024 International Day of Education in Ebonyi, with the theme: “Learning for lasting peace through community participation.”

The Secretary of EBSUBEB, Dr Livinus Ezeuwa, in a presentation during the summit, described education as the only trusted instrument to promote peace and wellbeing in society.

He stressed that education enlightened the mind, creating awareness about oneself, and another person and prescribing the right relationship in society.

He added that a properly educated person hardly fumbled to the extent of creating uninformed chaos in society.

He stated, “If we can revamp education in this state, all this violence, unnecessary wars, wrangling, quarrelling and mutual betrayals will be minimised, if not eradicated.

“A society that has a bunch of ignorant, illiterate people who do not know their left and right will always experience violence and unnecessary nagging and bickering.

“So, we want to promote education to enthrone tranquillity in society. We want to promote education to enable us to live harmoniously. We want to enthrone education to enable us to sleep with our two eyes closed.”

Commending Governor Francis Nwifuru for demonstrating huge political will towards revamping education in the state, participants avowed their commitment to synergise and promote education as a means of enthroning peace in the state

The Executive Director of the foundation, Oliver Ajah, explained the objectives of the meeting to include a review of successes and challenges facing the basic education sector in the state.

He identified poor funding as the major problem of the sector and advocated sustained increase in the education budget and community involvement in the budget development and utilisation process.

Meanwhile, participants, during the summit were engaged in individual and group activities from which a manifesto/schools prioritised needs document was developed.

The document, according to Mr Ajah, will be delivered to policymakers, including the executive and legislative arms of government, during advocacy visits and engagements for improved education funding through proper budgetary allocation.

A total of 100 participants, including pupils, teachers, parents and school-based management committee members from 20 selected schools in 10 local government areas, attended the summit.

There were also representatives from EBSUBEB, the ministry of education, the media and civil society organisations.

January 24 every year is observed as the International Day of Education.

The event provides stakeholders and policymakers with a platform to take stock of how far the sector has fared and what should be done to enhance quality education.

(NAN)