BY PATRICIA OGBECHE
In a move aimed at strengthening education development and financing in Nigeria, the Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey, on Tuesday participated in the 2025 Nigeria Education Summit organized by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja.
The two-day summit, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, brought together Commissioners for Education from the 36 states of the federation to deliberate on innovative and sustainable approaches to education funding. The forum is themed “Pathways to Education Financing: Developing a Synergy Between Town and Gown in Nigeria.”
Professor Odey was accompanied by the Executive Chairman of the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Mrs. Fidelia Okpo Ene, and the Board Secretary, Mr. Inyang Etta, reflecting the state’s strong commitment to advancing quality basic education.
The high-level summit attracted key stakeholders in the education sector, including the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, several state governors and deputy governors, ambassadors, development partners, and representatives of educational institutions. Students from various schools were also present, offering valuable contributions to discussions on the future of education in the country.
The summit was formally declared open by a representative of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Kashim Shettima.
The gathering serves as a strategic platform for states to exchange ideas, explore sustainable education financing models, and strengthen collaboration between academic institutions and the wider society, with a shared goal of improving access to quality education and enhancing learning outcomes across Nigeria.
