Funmi Ogundare
The Adunni Basis has referred to as for renewed nationwide dedication to elementary schooling, stressing that Nigeria’s independence can’t be absolutely realised with out making sure that each kid has get admission to to high quality schooling.
Founding father of the root, Motunrayo Alaka, in a commentary to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day, described schooling as a important pathway wherein electorate can workout their freedom and take part meaningfully in nationwide construction.
Alaka stated the emancipation of the thoughts of the Nigerian kid is central to securing the promise of Nigeria’s independence.
“Training is independence, a philosophy that knowledgeable the release of the #Edupendent marketing campaign all over the maiden version of the Fundamental Training Torchbearers Awards (BETA) in October 2025,” she stated.
In line with her, whilst political independence gave Nigeria sovereignty as a country, schooling supplies electorate with the information, self belief, abilities and alternatives required to workout that freedom.
“For the Nigerian kid, due to this fact, independence will have to come with the chance to get admission to high quality elementary schooling, be informed, be secure, increase their attainable and believe a long term of chance,” she stated.
She famous that BETA used to be established to recognise people, establishments and communities whose contributions have complicated elementary schooling in Nigeria, whilst inspiring renewed dedication to the kids who would form the rustic’s long term.
The 2026 version of BETA is scheduled to carry in Lagos in October with the theme, ‘Sporting the Torch: Reimagining Fundamental Training for Nigeria’s Long term’.
Alaka stated the yearly Independence Day party equipped a possibility for Nigerians to replicate at the nation they inherited, the country they lately have and the only they’re construction, including that such mirrored image will have to come with the Nigerian kid.
“Each and every Independence Day invitations us to replicate at the Nigeria we inherited, the Nigeria we’ve got and the Nigeria we’re construction,” she stated.
“For us, that mirrored image will have to come with the Nigerian kid. What does independence imply to a kid who can’t get admission to high quality schooling? What does it imply to a kid who’s in class however isn’t finding out? And are we giving each kid, without reference to background or circumstance, a good alternative to fulfil their attainable?”
The founder known get admission to to schooling, finding out results, infrastructure, trainer capability, inequality and college protection a few of the main demanding situations confronting elementary schooling within the nation.
She said the efforts of educators, communities, establishments, organisations and people operating to enlarge alternatives for Nigerian youngsters.
In line with her, BETA seeks to convey those realities in combination by way of honouring the paintings that has introduced the rustic this a long way, recognising the ones advancing elementary schooling and provoking more potent collective dedication to the longer term.
The #Edupendent marketing campaign, introduced in 2025, could also be anticipated to construct a broader public motion across the trust that schooling is prime to freedom and nationwide construction.
The marketing campaign will paintings with related stakeholders to advertise higher get admission to to elementary schooling, reinforce efforts to cut back the choice of out-of-school youngsters and toughen responsibility for the supply of obligatory elementary schooling for each Nigerian kid.
The maiden version of BETA, held in October 2025, used to be themed ‘Honouring the Previous: Celebrating Legacy in Fundamental Training’, whilst the 2026 version will focal point on reimagining elementary schooling for the longer term.