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Head of Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack.
The Head of Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, said on Saturday that she regretted not having enough time to implement all the ambitious ideas she had while serving as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.
She added that Nigeria’s future lies in the students nurtured within school environments.
Walson-Jack shared this in a keynote speech themed ‘Education and National Unity: Our Shared Responsibility,’ delivered at the 43rd Plenary of the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) in Abuja.
Walson-Jack formally took over from her predecessor, Folasade Yemi-Esan, on 17 July and was sworn in by President Bola Tinubu the same week in Abuja.
Addressing the Unity Schools Old Students Association, Walson-Jack emphasised inclusivity, cultural ties, and harmony among students.
The new Head of Service also expressed concerns that, unlike in the past when people from different tribes gathered in the same schools, today’s schools tend to have students from the same regions.
She further regretted not having enough time to execute the ideas she had shared with USOSA but expressed confidence that her successor would continue from where she left off.
She said, “Imagine a Nigeria where our schools teach our children the beauty of every tribe, cultural strength, and the shared destiny that binds us all. Education is the soil from which unity can grow. Through it, we foster cultural understanding, bridging divides that have too long kept us apart.
“But again, the unity schools of today, if you were to go through the student register, you would find it filled with people from the same tribe and tongue. One of my regrets, if I can call it that, is not having enough time in the Federal Ministry of Education to bring to life all the ideas we shared with USOSA.
“But I am glad that, as the emcee mentioned, the current Permanent Secretary is also a USOSA member. I encourage the association to continue working collaboratively and introducing new ideas that will help restore the glory of our schools. We must teach our children to think critically and see beyond the divisions that others may seek to exploit.”
Earlier in his remarks, USOSA President-General Mike Magaji acknowledged the challenges facing public education in Nigeria.
Magaji also outlined the association’s plans to stimulate stakeholder interest in unity schools.
He said, “Our goal is to engage stakeholders within and outside USOSA to ensure we elevate the support for public education, especially at the secondary school level. I have stated many times that USOSA is in solution mode.
“We will continue to engage constructively with all stakeholders for the growth and improvement of quality public education. Over the past year, I am pleased to report that we were able to hold a retreat, organise a sports carnival in Abuja, and host a plenary session in Port Harcourt, thanks to the support of the USOSA President in Port Harcourt.”
