Looking at the reality of the Nigerian state, the conversation for the development of the nation must be narrowed down to the regions.

This is why public officer holders and men of Chief Osita Chidoka’s caliber must be taken seriously when they share their opinion on issues of national importance like education.

Some days ago, within the course of the month, Chief Chidoka took to his Facebook handle to share an experience he had on his way to Anambra from Lagos aboard a flight.

Having taken off from Lagos, in an Asaba bound flight and in his typical scholarly nature, engaged a large population of the passengers on the flight who were majorly kids going back to school.

During the conversation, it dawned on him that these kids were all heading to Anambra state where their schools are located.

Chief Chidoka, popularly known as Ike Obosi went on to say that irrespective of the bad news that Anambra state unfortunately has been known with lately in the media, that the state government was definitely doing something right in the educational sector and must be commended for such quality of delivery in that sector.

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While expressing that thought which to an extent is relatively profound, he was confronted by some of the people who have access to his Facebook account who expressed themselves in his comment session.

Some of these people lost the importance of the heart-warming news he had shared which was boldly saying that Anambra State is doing well in its education sector but rather, choose to zoom in on the airport he travelled with to the Southeast.

Some of the commenters felt that it was anti Igbo developmental agenda for Ike Obosi to fly into ala Igbo without using the Chinua Achebe airport Umeri.

The former minister for aviation, scholar, public affair analyst, governorship aspirant, husband and lawyer had this to say to those who veered off.

“I posted about my experience of seeing schoolchildren on the flight from Lagos to Asaba on their way to schools in Anambra. The story reaffirmed the pre-eminent position of Anambra State as a destination for education despite all the negative news about kidnapping, shooting, and sit-at-home. Parents are prioritising their children’s education and voting with their feet about the quality of teaching and relative peace in our state.

I am the Deputy Chairman of the Anambra State Education Council under the Chairmanship of Gov. Soludo and can attest to the effort to make Anambra an exporter of education. However, that is not the issue of this post. I was taken aback by the persistent question about using Asaba Airport instead of Umueri Airport. I find the questions irritating, and below is my response to one of the comments.

This Anambra, or do I say Igbo love of division and insularity, is beginning to get on my nerves. How does Airport choice in a state surrounded by 3 Airports, Asaba, Enugu, and Owerri, become an issue for discussion? The man in Ihiala and Uli is probably closer to Owerri Airport than Chinua Achebe Airport. It is the same for those of us from Obosi and Oba, and that axis is to Asaba Airport. Many issues are considered in Airport choice beyond proximity: flight time, availability, destination and ticket cost. When I go to Awka, I use Chinua Achebe Airport. When I need to be in Abuja early, I use Asaba, and if I want to leave at midday, I go from Umueri.

What is this insularity from people who trade and constantly need markets? We must stop measuring our sense of self and worth with material and inconsequential things.

By the way, the success of Anambra and Igbo education started during the colonial days through missionary schools and government colleges. Government colleges Umuahia, Afikpo, Owerri, DMGS, Union Secondary, CIC, CKC, etc, are testimonies to a glorious past, a thriving present and a future assured with the Dominions, Gonzagas, Grundtvig etc.

Governor Peter Obi restored what the locust ate during the Military/Mbadinuju era, and we are proud of his work restoring the leadership of Anambra in Education” – Osita Chidoka

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Having made the above post on his Facebook account, some technocrats and public affairs analysts of Igbo origin were rather not satisfied with the fact that the former minister of aviation is basking in the euphoria of the achievement of Anambra state government in the educational sector while these youths being equipped with excellent education in the region cannot be retained in the region because of the poor quality of the economy when they graduate.

One of the comments that got our attention the most was that shared by Mr. Jimmy Abia on the subject at hand and it is shared below.

“My only worry about this is that the region just raises manpower for other parts of the country and the world.

By the time they are good enough to be useful to the society they leave the region because the region has refused to create opportunities for its young, active, educated people or put in place the infrastructure to enable their creative ventures thrive.

The effect is that you’ll mostly find the very old or very young in the region, without enough active, educated, upwardly mobile youthful population to influence the governance and development of the region.

I’m shocked that the leaders of SE are not even worried about this.

Osita Chidoka this should be of greater concern to Ndigbo rather than the mundane argument about which airport anyone chooses to fly into.” – Jimmy Abia

Moreso, the truth remains that Anambra state over the past years seem very deliberate about delivering the best quality of education to its citizens, residents and it is good to see that these efforts by successive governments are paying off organically.

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Beyond the acknowledgement of the strides of the government in education, the political leaders must prioritize the economic development of the region so that these exceptional talents that are being groomed here can be retained such that we can also have such men and women of excellent quality play critical roles in the development of the region either as professionals building great brands or as technocrats in politics.

Finally, we must commend Prof. Charles Soludo’s government for not dropping the ball in the state’s educational sector while not forgetting to mention Chief Osita Chidoka for this striking and critical observation. Mr. Jerry Abia’s submission must be taken seriously, as we must aim to make sure that these excellent talents being groomed in the Southeast are retained within the region.

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