Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of education, has asked governors in the south-east to declare a state of emergency in the education sector, warning that the region risks losing its long-standing educational advantage.
Ezekwesili spoke on Saturday while delivering a keynote address at the South East Education Conference in Awka, the Anambra state capital.
She urged the governments of Anambra, Imo, Abia, Enugu, and Ebonyi to take urgent and coordinated action to reposition education in the region.
The former minister also called for a “decade of education” aligned with the African Union’s education agenda.
Speaking on the theme, “Igniting the Advantage: Schools, Systems and Skills,” Ezekwesili said education in the south-east was historically treated as more than a public service.
“I grew up understanding that in South East Nigeria, education was not merely a service. It was a covenant,” she said.
She said families and communities once made significant sacrifices to ensure children had access to education, describing knowledge as the most durable inheritance.
Ezekwesili, however, questioned whether that commitment still exists today.
“Are we still honouring that covenant?” she asked.
She said the region must recommit to strengthening its education systems, warning that failure to act could undermine future opportunities for young people.
Ezekwesili urged policymakers, educators, and stakeholders to prioritise reforms that will improve learning outcomes and restore confidence in the system.
She added that children must remain at the centre of policy decisions, stressing that education is key to building a better society.
