It took me over a year to understand my ministerial role, Adamu Adamu says | EduCeleb
EduCeleb
21st August 2019
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu on Wednesday said it took him nearly one and a half years to understand how Federal Ministry of Education works when he was first assigned to the ministry.
He also expressed surprise that he was reassigned to the same ministry.
Mr Adamu was speaking at a reception organised at the ministry headquarters following his inauguration as minister along with Emeka Nwajuiba, the Minister of State for Education.
EduCeleb.com recalls that Adamu had held the same office in the first term of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration between November, 2015 and May, 2019.
The ministers both arrived at 2:46 pm after they were inaugurated by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday.
The duo were welcomed by staff of the ministry led by the Permanent Secretary, Sonny Echono and some directors in the ministry.
Mr Adamu, hailed officials of the ministry for their support during his first stint in office.
He also thanked the excited audience with whom he had worked for over three and a half years that he felt he was returning home to his “family.”
“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,” he said.
“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.”
He said both him and the former Minister of State for Education, 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.
In his words, “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.
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 reception ended with ministers being presented with the handover notes by the permanent secretary.