Int’l Education Day: Invest in People, Prioritize Education
Posted by WNP | 2 years ago | 1,221 times
By Vadoo Tyodzua and Mutmainat Asamu
January 24th is celebrated across the world as the International Day for Education. It is a day that highlight the importance of education in promoting peace and development. This date was adopted in 2018 at the United Nations General Assembly.
This year's theme, "Invest in People, Prioritize Education," emphasizes the crucial role education plays in building individuals and nations.
The United Nations calls for strong political action to ensure education is prioritized in policy, budgets, and initiatives, and for actions to be taken to implement education initiatives.
The UN in a report said that, 244 million children and youth are out of school, and 771 million adults are illiterate. Their right to education is being violated and it is unacceptable.
Everyone deserves a good education and this is beyond the four walls of a school. People remain a priority in nation building for, what is a nation without its people? And what is a nation meant to do for its inhabitants if not invest in them? Prioritizing education certainly makes for the highest form of investment.
This brings us to ask, what really is education? That we should make it a priority or give it so much attention? What exactly does education entail?
During a virtual webinar to mark International Day of Education, the CEO of Emerald Edu Concepts, Mr. Odusanya Olalekan, emphasized that education is the foundation of every other sector in the country.
Olalekan stressed the importance of investing in people, highlighting that they are the most valuable asset in any nation or organization.
He emphasized that education must be a priority as it is the foundation for all other sectors of the nation. He quoted Nelson Mandela, saying, “Education is the most powerful tool to change the World.”
"In the pursuit of an educational revolution, every individual has a part to play. Teachers need to prioritize their students' education and invest in their development, to be vocal advocates for sustainable community impact in education at the local level and to initiate activities that promote quality education," he said.
According to him, he said It is important for teachers, government, and citizens to prioritize and invest in education to ensure a better future for the community and society as a whole.
Oluwatosin Adebisi, the founder of Smiley Educational Support Foundation, spoke at the webinar and shared personal stories highlighting the issue of education inequality. She emphasized the need for action and stated that "We all have a responsibility."
The focus on the development of human beings, specifically pupils and teachers, aligns with this year's theme, "Investing in people, prioritizing education."
"Although some societies still neglect the importance of education, the International Day of Education is a call to action. It emphasizes that inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all can help countries achieve gender equality and break the cycle of poverty, even though some societies still dismiss education as unnecessary," she added.
