The National President of the Izhi Tehu Foundation (ITF), Adm. Igwe Christopher Agbo, has urged the Ebonyi State Government to complement its scholarship programme with urgent interventions in primary and secondary education, warning that scholarships alone cannot resolve the state’s broader educational challenges.
Agbo, who is also a Senior Manager at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a statement on Monday, commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for the scholarship initiative but said greater attention should be devoted to basic education, particularly schools in rural communities.
He said the condition of some primary and secondary schools, coupled with inadequate teaching personnel, required urgent government intervention to provide a conducive environment for learning and bridge educational gaps across the state.
According to him, while the scholarship programme is commendable, its reach cannot substitute for sustained investment in the institutions where children receive their foundational education.
“I do not argue that the scholarship initiative is not good. In fact, it is commendable and I give the governor his flowers. However, scholarship alone cannot address illiteracy and educational challenges in Ebonyi State,” Agbo said.
He maintained that improving basic education would have a wider and more sustainable impact by strengthening the foundation upon which students progress to tertiary institutions.
Agbo therefore called for a holistic education policy covering the entire educational chain, from primary and secondary schools to tertiary institutions, while retaining the existing scholarship scheme.
He urged the state government to prioritise the rehabilitation of dilapidated school infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, as well as address manpower shortages and improve the quality of teaching.
The ITF president also advocated stronger collaboration between the state government and the 13 local government councils in tackling human development challenges, stressing that although the responsibility should be shared, the state government should provide leadership.
Beyond education, Agbo called for a broader human development strategy encompassing healthcare, potable water, housing and general wellbeing.
He urged the government to strengthen primary healthcare services in rural communities, improve tertiary healthcare institutions and embark on preventive healthcare campaigns capable of encouraging healthier lifestyles and reducing the burden of preventable diseases.
Agbo also identified access to clean and potable water as a critical component of public health, arguing that water supply should form part of the state's human development agenda.
He proposed the establishment of a Human Capital Advancement Programme (HCAP), or Ebonyi-EduHealth Programme (EEHP), to provide a coordinated framework for addressing education and healthcare challenges across the state.
According to him, the proposed programme could be jointly funded by the state and local governments, with additional support sought from development partners, including the World Bank and African Development Bank.
Agbo further argued that Ebonyi’s development priorities should be anchored on projects capable of producing broad-based benefits for the population, particularly in areas where infrastructure and human capital constitute fundamental prerequisites for sustainable economic growth.
He referenced the Rostow stages of economic development theory, describing Ebonyi’s development challenges as largely foundational and arguing that greater emphasis should be placed on basic infrastructure, education, healthcare and human capital development.
“I do not expect this government to do wonders of turning the state to the first world today by venturing into every aspect of development since resources are scarce.
“What is important is to focus more on projects that have the greatest benefits to the people towards progress," he said.
Agbo said a government that prioritises human development should approach the sector comprehensively, arguing that education, healthcare, improved living conditions and housing are interconnected components of human development.
He urged the Nwifuru administration to maintain its scholarship intervention while simultaneously confronting the structural challenges affecting basic and tertiary education.
“If the government is prioritising human development, it should address human development issues holistically and let it be known for that,” he said.
Agbo made the statement amid the Nwifuru administration's ongoing emphasis on education and other development initiatives in Ebonyi. The governor has been in office since May 2023.
