Dr. Dakuku Peterside, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State in the April 11, 2015 election, has called for robust policies on education as a way of giving learning access to everybody irrespective of gender or social status.

Peterside, who said this in his message to mark International Literacy Day, also described education as the ultimate liberation experience for anybody. He therefore called on governments and policy makers in the country to make education available and compulsory to citizens as this would make management of people and even running of government a lot easier.

He said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by his Special Assistant (Media), Mr. Sylvester Asoya: “I need not over-emphasise the fact that education is everything to any serious nation or people. Regrettably, part of our problems today as a nation comes mainly from many years of neglect and indifference to issues of education by society and even those who should know.

“Let me also state here that education is a leveller. I agree completely with Nelson Mandela, the great African statesman who once said that it is only through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor. I also agree with the anti-apartheid icon that education is the great engine of personal development. This is an incontrovertible fact.

“Today, successes by frontline countries in research and development, political stability, scientific breakthroughs, technology, economic growth, and even improved standard of living, among other indices, are built on education and literacy, not on natural resource.

“Therefore we must wake up to the realities of modern times. For us to make the needed progress, we need to evaluate our journey so far. Our schools and training centres must be up and running and there must be incentives for education so that we can all return to that worthy path.

“As we mark International Literacy Day, it is therefore important for us to reflect and to work collectively towards reclaiming our lost glory in the education sector. We must also ensure that our centres of learning become conducive, both for teachers and students. I am confident that the new government at the centre has the will and vision to drive the process and turn around the many challenges facing education across the country.”

•Photo shows Dakuku Peterside.