Former students of Unity Schools in Nigeria under the aegis of the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) have called on the Federal government to prioritise the protection of schools from terrorists attacks.
USOSA in a communiqué issued at the end of its 38th Plenary and Annual General Meeting (AGM) noted that present and past leaderships of the country have run out of ideas in confronting the challenges facing the country.
USOSA’s President-General, Lawrence Wilbert, in his address themed “The Role of USOSA in Uniting Nigeria” observed that education is a fundamental and constitutional right, noting that there is a need to secure environment for the child to thrive
According to him, the association abhors extremism, particularly as it relates to the safety of students and academic establishments.
“We have lost too many innocent souls, and education sector is seriously threatened, particularly in the northern part of Nigeria.
“In this quest of nation building, the role of education both basic and secondary cannot be over emphasised.
The alumni stated that the inability of the government to tackle security and other challenges facing the society has left schools exposed to attacks and left Nigerians aghast and desperately groaning for help.
He insisted that Nigeria’s unity was under threat due to inability of leaders to proffer solution to the myriads of challenges bedeviling the country and failure to harness many ideas put forward by citizens on how to reorganize Nigeria.
He said: “The strong, united Nigeria we knew as children and students of various unity schools across the land is clearly disintegrating before our eyes.
“The socio-economic prosperity, ethno-religious co-existence and mutual trust, sound moral quotient, palpable patriotic spirit, people oriented political leadership and other vital features of our national fabric seemingly have taken permanent leave of our shores.
“The consequences are glaring.
Our law and justice system, education, business and finance, security and agriculture, sports and health, science and technology, politics and governance, and other vestiges of functional society have taken deep plunge into the abyss of a failing nationhood.’
Wilbert, therefore, called on Nigerians to confront and address social inequities, wanton corruption, nepotism, and other forms of ills, which he said threaten the existence of the nation.
He stressed the need to sensitise the populace to be eternally vigilant and hold all leaders and office holders accountable for their words and actions.
He added: “So, who shall rescue the nation? God? Yes. But He already has, by creating me, you and the hordes of other USOSAns all over Nigeria and in the diaspora, and ensuring that we were privileged to be chosen and well groomed to believe in the unity and progress of our country.”
He urged his colleagues to join any political party and strive to influence that party to prioritise broad-based national interests in its affairs and conduct.
THEGUARDIAN
