Nigeria’s Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has said that the country’s legislative assembly will henceforth assume the responsibility of strengthening the frontiers of education in the country.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony and inaugural matriculating ceremony of Amadeus University, Amizi, Ikwuano, Abia State on Saturday, Akpabio said the National Assembly “must guard, strengthen, and expand the frontiers of education with unyielding determination”.
According to Senator Akpabio who was represented at the event by the Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial district, Senator Austin Akobundu, Nigerian lawmakers must ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, to grow and to excel.
His word, “We must ensure that every child, from the bustling streets of Lagos to the quiet hamlets of Abia has the opportunity to learn, to grow and to excel. This is not a choice; it is an imperative. A nation that fails educate its youths has already written its obituary.
“We, in government must not only enact policies that they are carried out with vigor, vision and veracity. We must encourage institutions like Amadeus University to thrive, to innovate, and to stand as bastion of institutional might. And we must invite the private sector, philanthropists and all men of goodwill to join in this sacred mission.
“I do not say these words lightly, nor do I utter them to please you. I say them because I believe, with every fiber of my being, that education is one true path to a Nigeria that is industrialized, prosperous and viable”.
Earlier, Senator Austin Akobundu had tasked the matriculating students to utilize the opportunity offered by their parents and the school authorities to work assiduously in order to offer responsible leadership in the near future.
The Senator described the university as one of the best universities in Nigeria, adding “let me assure parents that the choice of this institution for your children and wards will always be greatly rewarded. The authorities have dedicated themselves to the creation of a world class university that will prepare the students to compete favorably amongst their peers anywhere in the world and have given even more to sustain the standard”.
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Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, represented by the Abia State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof Uche Eme Uche maintained that the state administration, in the bid to ensure youths of the state are well educated, introduced compulsory and tuition free education in both primary and post primary levels of education.
According to the governor, education experts from foreign countries have been engaged to teach the teachers in the basic and post basic levels and that the beneficiaries of the programme will in turn teach others.
To the school, Otti told them to see themselves as ambassadors of the not only Amadeus University but Abia State and warned them against involving in secret cults or engaging in other malfeasance.
In his speech at the event, the founder and chairman of Board of Trustee of Amadeus University, Dr Godwin Nwabunka disclosed that the institution was founder to empower, to inspire and to shape the next generation of African leaders, stressing that it is envisioned to do more than teaching.
“During my time in the United Nations system, and particularly at UNICEF, the manifestations of poverty, root causes and effects featured prominently in our programming and planning. In the course of my work and travels I encountered many women and children from various parts of the world and their stories deepened my awareness the universal truth that education has the power to transform lives”, Nwabunka stated.
He revealed that the school has so far sponsored over 4,200 students on scholarship in primary and secondary levels including tertiary institution as well as supporting the learning facilities in the university.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Samuel Nzotta in his speech disclosed that the students that matriculated were those in 2024/2025 academic year and that they had been admitted across the 19 National University Commission (NUC) approved programmes of the university.
The Senate President was at the occasion bestowed with an Award of ‘Doyen of Education and Transformational Leadership’ by the university.
