Challenges before the new UBEC boss

The commission stumbled from one controversy to the other, much of which bordered on finances leading to litigations in the courts of law. That was a major drawback that affected the reputation and credibility of the commission. There was also a case of attempted tenure elongation by the previous administration. The presidency waded into the […]

The commission stumbled from one controversy to the other, much of which bordered on finances leading to litigations in the courts of law. That was a major drawback that affected the reputation and credibility of the commission. There was also a case of attempted tenure elongation by the previous administration. The presidency waded into the crisis, but instead of nipping it in the bud once and for all, the appointment of an acting ES only scratched the surface of the problem. The limited powers of anyone in acting capacity, invariably affected the growth and workflow of the commission.
The primary education sector is the foundation and bedrock of the development, innovation and strides required to enhance the overall quality of education targeted at transforming the larger society. As a nation, we cannot afford to toy with that foundation for too long. When, therefore, the president announced the appointment of Dikko Suleiman last week, stakeholders viewed it not just as a welcome relief, but the balm needed to soothe the pain of the past. Those who know him say Suleiman is a stabilising force that the commission could do with at this critical period of its existence. He was never part of the crisis that bedevilled the commission in the past. There is no question of some persons and groups having divided loyalty; so he is expected to enjoy the cooperation of all and sundry. His leadership capability is also not in question as he will merely re-enact the good job he did elsewhere, having served as the executive chairman of Katsina State’s Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) in the past.
Perhaps, Suleiman’s untiring commitment to learning and continuous education is rooted in Benjamin Franklin’s belief that: “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” It could be safely surmised that his appointment was a payback for all his years of learning and schooling.
A thoroughbred professional educator, Suleiman started his career as a Grade Two teacher, through to National Certificate in Education (NCE), Bachelors Degree in Education (B.A.ED) and Masters Degree (M.ED) in Developmental Psychology, all of which bear relevance to his current post. He is currently doing a PhD in Child Development. It should be noted that his numerous educational milestones and certificates perfectly fit the bill; therefore, this is an appointment that can be classified as a round peg in a round hole.
This further heightens people’s expectation and increases the challenges the new ES has to confront headlong. Suleiman has also been provost; dean, Student Affairs, HOD, Educational Foundation, etc at Isa Kaita College of Education and the Federal College of Education, among other positions he held at various times.
Besides his wealth of experience, it is hoped that Suleiman will bring innovations to primary school administration in the country. It is disappointing that a country that earns trillions in petro-dollars still habours palpable decay in education, both in physical infrastructure and intellectual output.  The rot is so unbelievable that in the 21st century, dilapidated school buildings, lack of infrastructure, pupils defecating in the open dot most of our LEA schools. Children in these schools study under the elements, there are no learning facilities and qualified teachers.
Fortunately for the new ES, Katsina State where he comes from is leading in educational and infrastructural development in the country. As Katsina SUBEB executive chairman, he won a pre-Century Award of Excellence as the “most innovative SUBEB chairman in the Northwest zone.” He was also the first recipient of the best Academic Staff Merit Award under the National Productivity Merit Award and Award of Honour by the Nigerian University Education Association Students. This is besides some international awards such as Best Performing Chairman of ‘best practice’ in basic education in Northern Nigeria at Dragomanov Pedagogical University, Kyiv, Ukraine and an honorary doctorate degree in Applied Psychology at the University of Emerging Technology in the same Ukraine. To prove that these awards are no flukes, the new ES must continue to innovate to reinvent the UBEC.
The ES’s antecedents and professionalism saw him through many aspects of primary education, which he knows in and out. He now has a singular opportunity to reverse the ugly trends whereby emphasis is placed on private schools to the neglect of public primary school that nurtured all the country’s eminent and distinguished academics, including the president.
To give credence to his scholarship, the new ES has published works in local and international educational journals of repute and has written papers for local and international conferences, on such topical teacher/pupil education related issues such as child psychology, entrepreneurship education, youth matters, eradication of child abuse, nomadic education, counselling and teaching strategies, examination malpractices, security matters and teacher education. It is the hope of many Nigerians that Dikko Suleiman succeeds at what he knows how to do best—primary education administration, regulation and monitoring. May God guide and give him the wisdom to do what is right.
Patrick wrote from No.20, Goronyo Close, Garki, Abuja