A former Principal, Federal Government Girls’ College, Sagamu, Ogun State, Alhaja Falilat Quadri, has opposed the call for the scrapping of unity colleges in the country.
Rather, Quadri called for the recruitment and posting of more subject teachers to the schools to enhance tuition.
She stated this during the send-off party organised by the FGGC to mark her retirement from service as the school’s principal and deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Education.
The former principal, who retired from service after 35 years, said unity schools would remain relevant in promoting integration in the country.
According to her, they have become a meeting point for Nigerians from the various ethnic groups to relate with one another.
She said, “Unity Schools no longer necessary? They are very necessary in bringing people of different backgrounds together. FGGC, Sagamu is not just one unity school, it is an international school because you have pupils even from here. I’m one of the products of the Federal unity colleges and I won’t want it to be scrapped. I want them to remain.”
Quadri, however, stressed the need for more teachers to be posted to the institution, saying this would enhance the standard of teaching and learning there.
She added that because of the growing pupil population in the school, it had become imperative that more teachers be provided to handle each of the various subjects.
The former principal also commended the Federal Government’s efforts at ensuring that the Nigerian girl-child was given proper education.
“The Federal Government is trying. The current Minister of Education, Prof. Ruquayyat Rufai, is trying very well and, in conjunction with the Minister of State for Education, who is the minister in charge of the unity schools, they are putting in their best to see that all girls are fully educated. They are trying their best,” she said.
Quadri also said contrary to the general belief among Nigerians, the standard of education in the country had not fallen.
“It’s improving, it’s not falling at all. You can see the performance of the young girls, everything is fine. Thank God,” she said.
The retired principal, however, assured that having left government service, “I’ll continue to serve my community and my people. I’m retired but not tired.”
Also, the college Vice-Principal (Academic), Mr. Nwabueze Njoku, described her as a strong advocate of the culture of transparency.
Njoku added that Quadri distinguished herself as an administrator “who blocked every loophole.”
The current principal of FGGC, Sagamu, Ms. Adenike Ogunbekun, commended her predecessor for laying a solid foundation for her to come and build upon.
