Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh (SAN), has warned that lack of access to qualitative education might impede the economic growth of the country.

Alegeh identified poverty, infrastructural deficit, inadequate funding and manpower, as contributory factors to Nigeria’s economic backwardness.

He stated this in Port Harcourt, in his keynote address at the 41st plenary of Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA),

Speaking on the theme: “Education is the key foundation for building legacies and our united future,” Alegeh noted that learning is a critical ingredient that drives growth and development.

He said: “For the country to experience growth and development, there must be political stability, and for this to be, the people must be educated to make informed choices during elections.

“Without education, you have a voting populace that cannot make informed decisions. If they cannot make those informed decisions, they cannot have good leaders; and without good leadership, there cannot be development.”

Alegeh, who noted that unity schools have produced enduring friendships, said there is an urgent need for government at all levels to fund education, which is the single most important factor in ensuring growth, development and unity.

In his goodwill message, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr Ovy Chukwuma, thanked the old students for their contributions to educational growth in Nigeria.

Chukwuma, who described the theme of the event as apt, called for a conference where policies that would drive educational development would be developed.

Earlier, the President-General of USOSA, Michael Magaji, emphasised the need for government to address the challenges confronting the sector, especially at the primary and secondary levels.