Rivers State governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and former Vice President of the World Bank, Prof. Oby Ezekwesili, have urged Niger Delta states and the Federal Government to give priority to educational advancement.

Speaking at the BRACED states 2012 Education Summit at Government House in Port Harcourt, Governor Amaechi said a country that failed to give priority to education would be doomed.

He said: "If we don't give priority to education, our country will be doomed, and I believe that is why we have gathered here today because education is first, it is the future of our children and if we don't do that, our children and future will be doomed."

Key attributes

Amaechi also explained that education had served as a platform for the emergence of state, national and world leaders, noting that four key attributes were needed to achieve quality education in the country.

He listed them to include a conducive atmosphere to study, qualified teachers and training, basic infrastructure and curriculum, and consistent funding to sustain the project.

Amaechi said with the current priority given to education by his administration, parents now transfer their children from private schools to the public schools built by government.