Fabian Osuji Minister of Education Professor Osuji was born in 1942 in Niguru, Imo State, Nigeria. An outstanding scholar from his youth, he has B. Sc. Zoology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1967); Ph.D, University of Ibadan (1973) and Post Doctoral research at Imperial College of Science and Technology, London; with over 35 publications. Prior to his appointment as HME, Professor Osuji served as Imo State Commissioner for information and Social Development (1994-1996), Professor of Applied Biology, St. John’s University, New York (CUNY) USA (1997-1999) and Pro- Chancellor, University of Nsukka (2000-2003). He received the Africa Peace Award in March 2004, cited as “…an ambassador of unity, an apostle of qualitative education for Nigerians, an Icon of Peace”. Prof. Osuji is married with children.

Our youth, our hope

I bring you the compliments of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the citizens of our great country.

The theme of the 47th Session of International Conference on Education has come at a most auspicious time for Nigeria and Africa. The outcome of its discussions, which would focus on the empowerment and upliftment of youths, should give hope to the lives of our youths.

Nigeria is currently undergoing profound economic reforms under the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS). Education, as the most potent instrument for achieving this economic emancipation, received a boost through the passage of the Universal Basic Education law. Gender gaps in education are being addressed through the Strategy for Acceleration of Girls Education in Nigeria (SAGEN), while other issues on quality are being handled through teacher reform. Equally, the 2004-2007 Strategic National Education Plan (SNEP) includes measures to curb examination malpractice and cultism, which are issues that have the potentials to lower the quality of education and impede national development.

The challenges our young people face cannot be totally divorced from the effect of our overstretched educational facilities. There is a need to commit more resources towards educating the youth through formal, alternative and non-formal education approaches. In a rapidly expanding global economy, more opportunities should be made available for youths from various regions to exchange experiences towards building partnerships for the mutual survival of humanity.

In this context and within the framework of achieving our already established international and regional goals in EFA, NEPAD, MDGs, UNLD, ADEA and DEWA, Nigeria, is hopeful that the ICE at its 47th Session would be a forum for developing practical commitments to international cooperation for enhancing quality education for all young people, in a world that is culturally diverse and symbiotically interactive.