Gov. Mbah Says Education Must Drive Nigeria’s Development as UNICEF, UNESCO and British Council Commend Enugu’s Reforms.
Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform — October 8, 2026
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has called for the declaration of a national emergency in education, urging the Federal Government and stakeholders to pursue a quantum leap in funding, teacher development, infrastructure and educational standards.
Mbah made the call on Wednesday at the 2026 Enugu Education Summit and the unveiling of the Enugu State Education Policy at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.
The Governor, who described education as fundamental to Nigeria’s future prosperity, said the country must move beyond rhetoric and treat education as an urgent national priority through stronger budgets, improved teacher development, modern infrastructure and strategic partnerships.
He noted that Nigeria could not sustainably eradicate poverty or build a productive economy without equipping its citizens with the knowledge and skills required to create wealth, secure employment, build enterprises and contribute meaningfully to society.
According to him, Enugu’s own experience demonstrates the need for bold and sustained investment in education. He disclosed that the state has allocated 33 per cent of its annual budget to education for three consecutive years, while developing 268 Smart Green Schools and more than 7,000 classrooms equipped with modern learning tools.
Unveiling the new Enugu State Education Policy, Mbah said the policy is already being implemented and will serve as the benchmark for the state’s education sector over the next six to 10 years.
He said the administration’s objective is not merely to renovate existing schools but to transform the entire education system to prepare Enugu children for the demands of the future.
The Governor also stressed the importance of transforming Nigeria from a consumption-driven economy into a creation economy, where young people are equipped to research, design, engineer and develop solutions for local and global challenges.
Meanwhile, UNICEF, UNESCO and the British Council commended the Enugu State Government for its education investments and reforms.
UNICEF said Enugu had demonstrated strong commitment to education transformation through investments in Smart Green Schools, teachers, foundational learning, digital literacy and experiential learning. The agency also supported the development of the Enugu State Education Sector Plan 2026–2035.
UNESCO similarly commended the administration, highlighting the Smart Green Schools, the Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation and the planned recruitment of more than 6,000 teachers.
The British Council also expressed its readiness to continue partnering with the state to translate its education policies into improved classroom outcomes.
The summit, themed “Transforming Education for the Future: Leadership, Innovation, Partnership, Financing and Sustainable Reform,” brought together government officials, development partners and education stakeholders.
The event concluded with the official unveiling of the Enugu State Education Policy and a tour of the Smart Green School Innovation Studio, featuring innovations developed by students.
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