NAPEP, Ministry to Tackle Poverty Through Quality Education

from All Africa

Daily Trust (Abuja)

By Hamisu Muhammad
Abuja

The National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), is seeking partnership to fight poverty using quality education as a weapon, the national coordinator of the programme, Dr. Magnus Kpakol, has said.

Kpakol said the education ministry plays a vital role in the socio-economic development processes of the country even as the ministry is the backbone of any meaningful poverty eradication initiative.

Speaking to the Minister of State for Education, Hajiya Aisha Jibir Dukku, in Abuja, the coordinator said NAPEP aims to penetrate the grass roots in order to eradicate poverty.

A statement from Miss Ekaete Umo, press secretary to the NAPEP coordinator said Kpakol noted the close partnership in programme implementation as central to the realization of the objective of the federal government's fight against poverty scourge in the country.

Hajiya Dukku, while receiving the NAPEP coordi-nator in her office said that the ministry understands the complex nature of poverty eradication pointing out that adequate education constit-utes the major tool necessary for getting out of poverty.

According to the minister, poverty and illiteracy are the twin engine of stunted growth and development of both the individual and the nation.

Hajiya Aisha paid glowing tributes to the NAPEP boss whom she described as the brain behind the progress recorded in the fight against poverty in Nigeria, adding that she comes from a state where NAPEP is performing creditably well.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Jerry Anthony Agada, welcomed the close collaboration between the ministry and NAPEP and assured that the two government establish-ments will work to attain a free and egalitarian society.

She said President Yar'Adua's administration is poised to tackle extreme poverty by bringing together resources from all the vital stakeholders in the fight against poverty to meet the 2020 dream for Nigeria to be an economically vibrant nation.