By Ifeanyi Okolie
CALABAR—The Federal Government has said that it will continue to provide both financial and material support to state governments to enable them provide basic education to Nigerian children.

Minister of State for Education,  Ezenwo Nyesom Wike said this in Calabar, yesterday in a keynote address he delivered at the Second Cross River State Education Summit.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant, Media, to the minister, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike said that although education was on the concurrent list in the 1999 Constitution, the Federal Government had resolved to strengthen its partnership with states to improve the sector.

His words, “The Federal Ministry of Education will continue to pursue and implement the right policies and programmes, necessary to effectively address identified problems currently affecting the education sector at all levels.

“I am here to encourage and create the necessary synergy between the Federal Ministry of Education and people and government of Cross River State to move education forward in practical terms.”

He also said that the Federal Government would always work towards enhancing access to quality education for the vulnerable and marginalised groups, and asked the education stakeholders in Cross River State to work with state government to improve on the gains so far recorded in the sector in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, who was   represented by his deputy, Efiok Cobham said the second Summit was convened to generate fresh ideas to tackle educational challenges in the state.