It Took Me Over A Year To Understand My Job As Minister Of Education – Adamu

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu on Wednesday said it took him
one and a half year to understand how Federal Ministry of Education
operates when he was first assigned to the ministry.

The minister said he first had to get the idea of what education
was when he first got to the ministry, adding that he could only
see what was happening at the ministry after a year and half.

According to him, haven worked in the ministry for over three
and a half years, he was returning home to his “family.”

He said these in his remarks when he and Emeka Nwajuiba, the new
Minister of State for Education resumed briefly at the
Ministry.

The ministers both arrived at about 2:45 pm after they were
inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa
on Wednesday.

Buhari had retained Adamu as the main minister and named Mr.
Nwajuiba as the minister of state for education.

The duo were welcomed by excited staff of the ministry led by
the Permanent Secretary, Sonny Echono and some directors in the
ministry.

Malam Adamu, hailed Echono and directors of the ministry for
their support during his first stint in office.

He said both him and the former Minister of State for Education,
Prof. Anthony Anwukah had worked hard to put together the
Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP 2016-2019) to the point of
implementation before their tenure ended on May 2019, 2019.

The minister said: “We had laboured over the time on the
strategic plan for the education and only to the point of
implementation then we had to leave. I had the opportunity to
remind President Muhammadu Buhari that the nation was expecting so
much from him.

“When we were sent here the first tenure, it took me one and
half year to understand the ministry, it also took me as a surprise
when I was re-assigned to the ministry of education. I had thought
I would be sent to another ministry where I would have to learn all
over again. Now, I know that I am coming back to a family.

“You all are my teachers and hopefully we will work well
together again.

“The reality is the confidence I reposed in the Permanent
Secretary. When I came here I had to get the idea of what education
is and I could only see what is happening here after a year and
half.”

Adamu noted that Nwajiuba had abandoned his Doctorate programme
to serve in the cabinet of President Buhari as minister, adding
that his appointment as minister of state would be helpful.

Nwajuiba was Chairman, Board of the Tertiary Education Trustfund
(TETFund) until his appointment as the minister of state for
education.

Nwajuiba said he was at home at the ministry.

”I am comfortable that I do not have to go to another ministry
but here with my senior brother at the ministry of education I can
be tutored and well directed,” he said.

The ministers were presented with the handover notes by the
permanent secretary after meeting with workers.

They left immediately after the presentation.

They are expected to resume fully tomorrow and brief the press
on their programmes.

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