Senator Ekong Sampson, has expressed his opposition to the recent policy setting age limit for admission into Nigerian universities.
The Federal Ministry of Education has set the minimum age for University admission at 18 and beyond, but the senator representing Eket Senatorial District (Akwa Ibom South) faulted the policy, arguing that it is counterproductive to the development of educational ingenuity in the young.
Speaking at a forum organised by the Uyo Book Club (UBC) to mark the post -humus birthday of the legendary poet, Christopher Okigbo, held at the Shakespeare’s Hall of Warbridge Hotel, Uyo, the state capital at the weekend, Sampson, described the policy as unpopular, given the fact that there are some specially gifted children with the excellence spirit.
He said: “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 such children could be attracted to negative pastimes 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 a decision, the lawmaker vowed he would rally forces against it at the National Assembly (NASS).
Joining others drawn from the academia, politicians, students and researchers including 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, Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Sampson, extolled the virtues of Okigbo, as a living legend still glowing in literally excellence.
He noted that with his literally works remaining evergreen, Okigbo’s memory, as a writer and activiist, 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, who represented the Okigbo family in Ojoto, Enugu State, described the celebration of Okigbo, his brother, in far – away Akwa Ibom, 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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