Defence Ministry, Mass Literacy Commission opt to join SURE-P Programme

ABUJA (SURE-P Report) – The Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro has said that the Federal Ministry of Defence intends to partner with the Subsidy-Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) in the 2015 budget.

The Minister made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Chairman of SURE-P, Martin Luther Agwai (General Rtd) in his office recently to seek for SURE-P intervention in the projects and programmes of the Ministry. He also congratulated the SURE-P Chairman on his achievements and expressed the desire for the Ministry of Defence to be included in SURE-P programmes and projects as the process for next year budget commences.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, Esther Uduehi charged SURE-P to assist the Commission towards tackling the high rate of illiteracy in the country.
He also noted that over 56 million Nigerians are illiterate, while 10.2 million children are out of school in the country.

“It is a shame that these people when they drive cause accident. They cannot bank, they keep money at home.  When they vote, their votes do not count. They cannot adhere to doctors’ prescriptions. We want to see what they can do to improve the situation,” he stated. She added that the Commission intends to establish learning centers and engage part time teachers, who would spread awareness across the country as well as carry out monitoring and evaluation programmes.

Esther Uduehi called for assistance from SURE-P to enable them carry out their projects and programmes.

In his response at the event, the Chairman of SURE-P, Martin Luther Agwai said that every fund in the budget of SURE-P has been tied to programmes and projects and promised to present their cases at the plenary.