Abuja — JAPAN and Nigeria yesterday signed an agreement of 307 million Japanese Yen (N384 million Naira or 2.84 million USD), under the project for "Construction of Additional Classrooms for Primary Schools" in Niger State.

Signing the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Education Minister Professor Fabian Osuji, said the ceremony marks the initial practical step towards actualizing the Japanese Government support for the Federal Government's UBE Programme.

Professor Osuji noted that in the last five years Japanese Government have embarked upon developmental projects especially those that have direct impact on the people in all states of the federation, adding that Japanese support on Federal Government UBE Programme in construction of additional classrooms, instructional materials, teachers' offices, health and sanitation facilities in schools is a giant stride commitment to the Government of Nigeria.

His words, "Despite the passage of the UBE Bill that guarantees funding from the Federation Account to the Scheme, there will still be the need for assistance from development partners, governments of friendly nations as well non governmental organizations through the provision of additional infrastructural facilities across the nation", the minister stated, in 2001 two years into the UBE programme. A survey showed that the total number of classrooms available nationwide stood at 332,408, while additional classrooms required, assuming the existing classrooms were in satisfactory usable condition, was 553,578.

"This mean to achieve 100% classroom availability by 2015 which is the target date for achievement of Education For All, for which government has provided over 50,000 classrooms per year shows the significance of the present intervention of the Japanese Government through JICA whose target is to provide 900 additional classrooms n three states before 2007", he noted.

He therefore assured Japanese Government and YACHIYO Engineers of the total commitment of Nigerian Government to fulfill their own obligations in the implementation process of the project, adding, that these modern classrooms to be provided in Niger, Plateau and Kaduna states will be extended to other states of the federation.

Also signing the aid agreement on behalf of the Japanese Government, Ambassador Akira Matsui said, in this project, 78 classrooms in 12 schools will be constructed adding, at least 5-7 thousand boys and girls can access better educational environment every year.

According to Matsui, Japanese Government is extremely delighted to support Nigerian children directly through this school construction project, adding, the total amount for Niger State is up to 307 million Yen (approximately 384 million Naira or 2.84 million USD.He said, the project in Niger State is merely the first step, adding, the Japanese Government will offer the construction of classrooms, toilets and boreholes, and provision of furniture like desk, chair and blackboard, as well as maintenance training for the PTAs and teachers, while the Nigerian team will offer the site preparation, construction of access roads, provision of furniture for teachers as will as employment of well qualified teachers.