The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has urged the newly appointed officials of various agencies in the education sector to ensure service delivery.
Alausa, who gave the advice at the inauguration of principal officers in Abuja on Wednesday, urged them to remain focused on their responsibilities to drive meaningful progress in the education sector.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly inaugurated officers are Prof. Fatiu Arogundade, Vice Chancellor and Dr Gregory Obayemi, Registrar, Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Others are Dr Mohammed Aminu, Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) and Tunde Ajibulu, Deputy Executive Secretary (Service) Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
Also on the list is Olajuwon Akinyebi, Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), UBEC.
Alausa emphasised the need for rapid implementation of key educational reforms, particularly in the areas of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and the establishment of new higher institutions.
He said the ministry would integrate the newly appointed members into the ongoing efforts to restructure Nigeria’s vocational education framework.
According to him, the new appointees will be part of the TVET committee driving this agenda forward.
On strengthening the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta, Alausa urged the vice chancellor to expedite efforts for its take-off.
“The university is a new institution, and setting it up will not be an easy task. However, we have an infrastructure in place, and I am pushing to ensure the first set of students are admitted in the September academic cycle,” Alausa said.
He added that the university would be an affiliated with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abeokuta, which would serve as the teaching hospital for medical students.
Alausa clarified that the government would not convert FMC into a teaching hospital, as it previously attempted with similar institutions.
He added that a structured affiliation agreement had been designed to allow students to gain clinical training at the facility.
The minister also emphasised the need for robust programmes in Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, with a strong focus on Nursing education.
He noted that Nigeria and the world at large urgently required more trained nurses, adding that expanding nursing programmes would provide economic opportunities for citizens while addressing a critical shortage in healthcare.
He congratulated all appointees, reminding them of the additional responsibilities to contribute to national development.
The minister, who praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, added that Tinubu’s administration had created a fair and enabling environment for government officials to serve effectively.
“We have a President who has established a level playing field and demonstrates strong political will to deliver the dividends of democracy.
“Your role in this mission is crucial,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the appointees, Prof. Fatiu Arogundade, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences Abeokuta, commended Tinubu for giving them the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the country.
Arogundade pledged the commitment of the principal officers to maintaining standards, integrity and transparency in the delivery of their mandate.
“The Ministry of Education has challenged us that education has changed, and we must move with the trend.
“In our different part of status, we’ve been challenged to set indelible legacies, particularly those of us that are even foundation members.
“And on behalf of my colleagues, we promise to live up to this and deliver on our mandate in the different parts of status.
“We promise not to disappoint you and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he pledged.
