Education Minister Tasks Nigerian Youths On Knowledge-Driven Economy

The Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, has urged Nigerian youths to competitively take advantage of the 21st-century knowledge-driven economy within and outside Nigeria.

Opiah made this call during the inauguration of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Minister, while speaking at the event, emphasised the importance of treasury management in achieving a sustainable economy, stating that it helps in maintaining the value of money.

“Treasury management is a ‘MUST BE for any nation that targets sustainable development because it is a strategic approach to optimising beneficial returns of innovative deployment of both public and private finance. In addition, treasury management helps to put in place preventive mechanisms to safeguard resources and ensure that there is value for money.

“I am very confident that the benefits and impacts of the establishment of this Institute will be positive on our society and the Nigerian economy when fully operational," he said.

Stating more benefits of treasury management, Opiah said with the management in place, money will be appropriately distributed across the sectors in the country.

 “Supervision and management of cash flows and their balances will be better managed and utilised; There would be better services from banks; Proper allocation of funds will be achieved; fraud and embezzlement would be minimised.

“We all know that with the above mention benefits, the economy will function better with adequate financial resources appropriately allocated and disbursed. The Chartered Institute of Treasury Management is particularly important to the education sector because it will help ensure that finances allocated to the sector by government, civil society and non-governmental organisations will be judiciously utilised for the achievement of the Ministry’s three focal areas of Access, Quality and Systems Strengthening and of course the timely attainment of the Ministry’s 10 Pillars of the Education for Change: A Ministerial Strategic Plan

“Distinguished ladies and gentleman, we all agree to the fact that Nigeria education must prepare and arm Nigeria’s youths to take competitive advantage of the 21st century knowledge-driven economy within and outside the country. I believe that the operations of this Institute will help us achieve this target,” the Minister further explained.