NNPP Chieftain, Ajadi Charges FG To Adequately Reward Education Brilliance

A South-west chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo has urged the federal government to always provide adequate reward for academic brilliance.

He said the situation where the federal government reward athletes and footballers with huge amount of money and other incentives while it gives paltry sum to students who excel in academic competition is unacceptable.

Ajadi who was speaking on the recent reward by the federal government to youths who excel in sports competition and academic activities, said what is good for sports athletes is also good for those who excel in academic activities.

It would be recalled that the President recently appreciated members of the country’s female football team, the super falcons that won the Women African Cup of Nations with $100,000 each.The same amount was awarded to each member of the basketball team that won the AfroBasket ball competition.

In contrast, the federal government rewarded Nafisah Abdullahi, winner of the TeenEagle Global Finals competition, with a cash gift of N200,000.

The award was presented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, at a ceremony in Abuja.

Ajadi in a statement on Friday said the federal government through its rewards system is not encouraging education and brilliance by awarding ridiculous amount for such a great feat.

He called on the federal government to always do what is doing to encourage other sectors like sports in education too.

Ajadi said in the statement, “I want to call on the federal government to encourage educational development especially among our youths.

“The recent N200,000 reward to the global winner of an english competition, Nafisah Abdullahi is demeaning and ridiculous.

“If the federal government through its actions is discouraging academic brilliance and the development of education, then the future of the Nigerian youth is in jeopardy.

“A government that rewarded footballers and basketballers that won the African Competition with millions of dollars cannot justify giving a paltry sum to a world winner in an english competition.

“I think the government should extend it’s reward system in other sectors to education, so that our youth will aspire for brilliance in education.

“It is discouraging especially now that some youth are already declaring “education as a scam”, due to the way those who win academic laurels are poorly rewarded.

“Let me remind our government that education is the bedrock of any country’s development and so all hands must be on the deck to encourage educational brilliance with adequate reward.”