Some stakeholders have advocated the revamping of science education in the country to accelerate national development.
The stakeholders made the call on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at the Golden Jubilee celebration of Government Science College Izom, near Suleija in Niger, State.
The jubilee was also celebrated with inauguration of projects executed by the Izom Old Boys Association (IZOBA), quiz competition, launching of a Magazine, dinner and award night.
Mr. Umar Shu’aib, an old student at the college, said it was high time that government at all levels pay due attention to the expansion and increase investment in science education.
Shu’aibu, a former Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, said that the college was established 50 years ago to encourage science education for national development.
According to him, no country in the world develops without science education.
He said that due to the training they had in the school, most of the old boys were professionals, occupying positions in the society.
“We have so many professors, generals in the military, medical doctors, and engineers, all of us products of this school.
“We now have a duty to return the college to its past glory,” he said.
He called on the Federal Government to use the college as a model of what Science Secondary School should like and be replicated in all parts of the country.
Another old boy of the school, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, the Registrar and Chief Executive of the National Examinations Council, also argued that promoting science education would move the country forward.
Wushishi urged schools to pay attention to quality education as against all forms of examination malpractices.
According to him, no nation will develop without quality education with due focus on science and technology.
He appealed to the government of Niger to return the Government Science College Izom to a boarding school to be able to make the desired impact.
Earlier, the National President of IZOBA, Prof. Abdulkadir Abubakar, also requested for the return of the college to a boarding institution.
Abubakar said that the old boys recognised the importance of giving back to their alma mater.
He identified some of the projects executed by the association in the college for inauguration as the construction of toilets, refurbishing and construction of classroom desks, and boreholes.
Other projects, he said, included the donation of textbooks to the library, and supplying chemicals and reagents for the chemistry, physics, and biology laboratories.
This, according to him, demonstrated the association’s commitment to improving the learning environment and enhancing the educational experience for the students of the school.
“We are proud of what we have achieved, and we believe that these projects will have a positive impact on the school community,” Abubakar said.
While inaugurating the projects, Gov. Mohammed Bago, commended the association for the laudable interventions.
Bago, who was represented by the Commissioner of Education in the state, Dr Hadiza Mohammed, said that the support would boost teaching and learning in the school.
He said that the request for the return of the school to science boarding school would be given due consideration.
By Philip Yatai