The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Mr. Abubakar Bichi, has emphasized that no nation can legislate properly without first educating its citizens.
He believes that the national assembly may make budgetary allocations, but education multiplies value and empowers the people.
Speaking during the maiden Lecture series of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra state, Hon Bichi, who was represented by the Member representing Idemili North and South federal constituency, Mr Uche Okonkwo, noted that nations that have risen to global prominence did so not by accident, but by intentional investment in human capital.
The lawmaker noted that in a country defined by knowledge economies, technological disruption, and global competitiveness, mentorship serves as a bridge between generations, while philanthropy remains a tool for equity and opportunity.
“Nations that have risen to global prominence did so not by accident, but by intentional investment in human capital. In the same vein, it reminds us that ‘the roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.’ This underscores the discipline, sacrifice, and long-term vision required to build individuals who will in turn build nations,” he said.
A former Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Charles Esimone, who is the pioneer Dean of the faculty, delivered the keynote lecture titled Human Capital Development in the 21st Century: Mentorship and Philanthropy as critical catalysts for National Development.
Professor Esimone said Nigeria needed to focus on capacity building, human capital empowerment, and mentorship to realize the goals of national development.
Professor Esimone said health and education remain the critical catalysts that must be repositioned to harness the large population that is presently not skilled enough to drive the numerous raw materials into products.
He said, “For Nigerian development discourse, the most policy-relevant interpretation is not ‘mentorship makes everybody perfect.’ It is: mentorship increases the likelihood that existing investments in education and training translate into capability, productivity, and leadership, especially in fields that require tacit knowledge transfer (research methods, clinical judgment, scientific writing, grant writing, entrepreneurship, and ethical decision-making).
“Why mentorship becomes ‘national development’ rather than merely “personal success” Mentorship becomes a national-development catalyst when it is scaled beyond one mentor-one mentee into an institutional pipeline that produces: competent professionals (health workforce, STEM workforce, educators), research and innovation capacity (methods, labs, publications, patents), leaders for public and private systems (deans, directors, industry captains and agency leaders.”
The Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Professor Sunday Nduka, said the lecture series was considered a strategic platform for robust intellectual engagement on pressing national and global issues related to pharmaceuticals and other diverse topics.
Professor Nduka, who commended the founding fathers of the faculty for their contributions towards national development, called on the federal government to, among other things, constantly invest heavily in education, as it is a critical sector that drives economic development.
In a remark, the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, said the present knowledge-driven world, no nation can rise above the quality of its human capital, as education, skill acquisition, innovation, and ethical leadership are essential for sustainable progress.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Doctor Ifeoma Arinze, Governor Soludo said mentorship remains a powerful tool for transferring wisdom, shaping character, and unlocking potentials across generations.
The occasion was used to recognize the founding fathers of the faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, including the Managing Director of JUHEL Pharmaceutical, Doctor Ifeanyi Okoye; Professor Ilochi Okafor SAN; Professor Poly Emenike of NEROS Pharmaceutical; Professor Charles Esimone; and Right Honorable Abubakar Bichi, among others.
