'State, FG are not working, make basic, secondary education free, compulsory' - Prof Okojie

<h2></h2>, <h2>Prof. Julius Okojie, the Former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), has called on Nigerian leaders to make education at the basic and secondary levels free and compulsory.</h2>, <p>Okojie stated that Nigerian leaders owe every Nigerian child free primary and secondary education to enable than occupy their spaces in their daily living.</p>, <span>Prof. Julius Okojie, the Former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC)</span>, <p>Okojie was speaking in Abuja on Friday, July 28, 2023 at the launch of the Thomas Agnes Christianah Okojie (TACO) Charity Foundation, named after his parents and wife. The event also featured the inaugural edition of the Julius Okojie lecture series titled:’ The Future of the Nations university System’.</p>, <p>He said that Nigerian leaders owe every Nigerian child free primary and secondary education to enable than occupy their spaces in their daily living. He expressed displeasure with the state of primary education as pupils still learn under the tree during one of his tour to schools around the country.</p>, <p>The former NUC executive secretary said students studying under the tree would eventually be half-baked, which according to him is not good for the country’s growth and development. He explained that basic and secondary education was not made free because it lacked the appropriate structure.</p>, <p>“Local, State and Federal Government structure are not working. Federal Government is still doing basic education when it is the function of local government, secondary schools for states and federal government still doing it.</p>, <p>”Having worked through the public service, I know that a girl who has no education does not have a space in this country. So I have been promoting that crusade informally using my family house at Uromi, in Edo state.</p>, <p>”I have decided it will be the headquarters of the foundation. Education is the least you can give to kids and there is so much work to do in this country.</p>, <p>”I have a