Professor Nnamdi Anero Delivers IAUE’s 79th Inaugural Lecture, Advocates Tuition-Free Schooling For Nigerian Children

Professor Nnamdi Anero has advocated tuition free schooling for Nigerian children to acquire basic childhood education.Speaking while delivering the 79th inaugural Lecture of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) on Thursday June 11, 2026 at the University auditorium, the Professor of Childhood Education stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to resolve the issues bedeviling the childhood education system in the country.

The 79th inaugural Lecturer who spoke on the topic "Quadriform Catalytic Measures: A Framework for the Ideal Childhood Education System", also recommended that Government should institute a Childhood Education Commission with membership drawn from the core childhood professionals and practitioners.

According to the Professor of Childhood Education, the responsibility of the commission should include to source funds from individuals, companies, local and international agencies to feed and pay stipends to children in school and ensure school -child proximity.

The commission he further stated would ensure the arrest and prosecution of parents who refuse to send their children to school as well as to enforce child birth registration and provide all personal school needs of the child.Professor Nnamdi Anero suggested that the funds put into the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) by Government should be re-channelled to childhood education system because higher education is almost self-financing .

He argued that if the funds are plugged into childhood education system, it can help to pay stipends and feed children in school, establish more schools, enforce childhood school attendance policies, child birth related matters and other issues that can usher an ideal childhood school system in Nigeria.

The one time Director University Bookshop and Printing Press called on old boys and girls of schools, companies, diaspora members of communities, Government agencies, philanthropic organizations, individuals and other stakeholders to conceive programmes or projects to embark upon to promote childhood education within their localities so that no child is left without acquiring basic childhood education.Professor Nnamdi Anero suggested that the funds for facility maintenance which is one of the many problems confronting childhood education when provided should be handed over to the school Heads who are the day to day administrators of the facilities and who must provide evidence of how much such funds are used for the purpose for which it was voted for.

This approach he explained is better than making them just reporting Officers who report events to the ministries and boards. According to the 79th inaugural Lecturer, the boards or ministries do not intervene immediately and the idea of reporting and waiting for the agencies to attend to the problems account for the prolong neglects of some problems that impede smooth flow of the system.

The Etche born Professor hinted that since the absence of the teacher implies the halt of school daily activities, the management agencies need to provide accommodation, health services and other services within the school premises so that the teachers would not have excuses for non-arrival or late-arrival to schools.

This measure he opined would enable the teachers to cope with their day-to-day activities and promote the attainment of educational goals.In his speech, the Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) Professor Okechuku Onuchuku praised the Professor of Childhood Education for the lecture and urged all to address the four reference points highlighted as the basic, the learner, the school and the teacher to solve problems of Childhood Education.In a vote of thanks, Professor Goddey Wilson expressed gratitude to staff, guests, music department and the wife of the celebrant for roles played in ensuring the success of the lecture. Dr Ngozi Okiridu Public Relations Officer