Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ekong Sampson, has expressed his disapproval to the recent policy setting age limit for admission into the Nigerian Universities.
The Federal Ministry of Education has recently set the minimum age for University admission at age 18 and beyond.
However, Senator Sampson faulted the policy, arguing that it is counterproductive to the development of educational ingenuity in the young ones.
Speaking at a forum organised by the Uyo Book Club (UBC) to mark the posthumous birthday of legendary poet, Christopher Okigbo in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital at the weekend, Sampson described the policy as unpopular, given the fact that there are some specially gifted children.
“I am opposed to abridged education programmes for the young ones. It’s not the right decision to set the bar for the young ones in their educational pursuit,” the lawmaker stressed.
Querying what the children will be doing at home for two years after completing their secondary school education before age 18, Sampson feared that such children could be attracted to negative pursuits that could permanently truncate their thoughts pattern.
Urging stakeholders in the education sector, including parents to weigh-in, with a view to pressuring the authorities to rescind such decision, the lawmaker vowed he would rally forces against it at the National Assembly (NASS).
Joining other dignitaries drawn from the academia, politicians, students and researchers at the event were the President of UBC, Dr. Udeme Nana; Prof. Joseph Ushie of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), who was the lead speaker and the special guest, Barr Sylvester Okonkwo, the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
Sampson, extolled the virtues of Okigbo as a living legend whose works still glow in literally excellence.
He noted that with his literally works remaining evergreen, Okigbo’s memory, as a writer and activist would never fade. “I flew in from Abuja, purposely to attend this event for the living Okigbo, not for the dead,” Sampson, said
In the same vein, Okonkwo, a brother to the late literary icon who represented the Okigbo family from Ojoto in Enugu State, described the celebration in far-away Akwa Ibom State as testimony to his all-round ingenuity in art and literally works, noting that the late poet has transcended life with his works that have permanently etched his footprints on the sands of time.
According to him, his kinsman would forever be remembered for his unwavering commitment to truth, equity, and justice, adding that such virtues as embodied in the late poet, remain the foundation of development in any society.
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