Shettima urges NEDC to combat North East poverty via education

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and the Federal Ministry of Regional Development to tackle poverty in the North-east through investments in education.

Shettima made the call Friday during a meeting with NEDC management at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where they briefed him on the Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme (ASSEP).

He commended NEDC for its investment in education, stating that such efforts would be remembered positively in the future.

Shettima also noted that there was extreme poverty in the North-east, comparing it to some of the poorest regions globally, attributing the rise of militant groups in the region to “these socio-economic conditions.”

Despite the challenges, he applauded NEDC and its partners, including Dr. Mariam Masha, for their work in promoting ASSEP, highlighting its potential to change the region’s landscape.

He lauded innovations like the Virtual Reality (VR) headsets introduced by ASSEP which, he said, were revolutionising the learning experience and increasing engagement.

Shettima urged the NEDC, the Ministry of Regional Development, and other stakeholders to collaborate for greater efficiency and success in implementing ASSEP.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Ahmadu, noted that ASSEP aimed to enhance secondary education in the region, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to improve national education standards.

NEDC’s Managing Director, Alhaji Mohammed Alkali, detailed the Commission’s efforts in human capital development, including teacher training and the establishment of ICT centres in the region. (NAN)