Dr. Biola Adimula Presenting COSFAN members Profile Booklet to the Hon. Minister of State for Education.
Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni Association, Nigeria (COSFAN) has indicated deep interest in partnering with the Federal Government in achieving government’s educational goals and objectives for the attainment of sustainable development.
The need for the collaboration came to the fore on Thursday when the Minister for Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu hosted the members of COSFAN in his office, in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit in Abuja, COSFAN President, Dr Abiola Ruth Adimula said COSFAN is a non-profit organization consisting of eminent Nigerians who have enjoyed the sponsorship of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), United Kingdom (through the British Council), in their respective postgraduate academic pursuits and/or career enhancement from 1960 to date.
Adimula said COSFAN was ready to collaborate with the Federal Government through the Ministry of Education in the areas of technical and personnel supports to Federal Ministry of Education especially in organizing educational competitions like science innovation, debate, spelling bee, among others that can enhance the education sector in the country.
She stated further that the collaboration would help the Ministry to strengthen its evidence based policy process and at the same time save the cost of conducting research.
“In an effort to impact the Nigerian society, we are determined to provide voluntary services, to improve the education and other relevant sectors by making ourselves available to share our wealth of knowledge and professionalism.
“The Nigerian and British governments have invested in our career to give us the professional skills we now possess, making COSFAN members to be experts in different fields of study. Hence, we can support the government in planning, designing and implementation of various capacity building programmes for the Ministry and its agencies” COSFAN President pledged.
Adimula disclosed that the main objective of COSFAN is to promote and advance education, in order to create an aware and informed society of Nigeria.
She also mentioned promotion of scholarships by institutions of award to deserving Nigerians and acting as a think-tank in different need-based development issues in Nigeria and between Nigeria, UK, and other Commonwealth countries, among others as some of the association’s areas of interest.
“Our programmes and activities are targeted towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in six thematic areas focus of Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), UK. Viz:
Science and Technology for development; Strengthening health systems and capacity; Promoting global prosperity; Strengthening global peace, security and governance; Strengthening resilience and response to crises
Access, inclusion and opportunity.
“Some of COSFAN members have played critical roles in many of the international donor projects, including DFID’s Education Data Research and Evaluation in Nigeria (EDOREN), has played critical roles in some of the Ministry’s work, such as nigeria-education website, national education conference, DFID/UNICEF Girls Education Project. (In fact EDOREN’s former research officer is our member). The Ministry can leverage on such capacity to advance its works. If we are contacted, we can facilitate this” she promised.
She added, “COSFAN is also available to extend to the Ministry the Commonwealth Scholarship “Project Camp” scheme for selected candidates, on providing one-on-one mentoring at predeparture briefings, reintegration workshops and events in collaboration and on behalf of the Ministry.
“COSFAN has compiled the list of some of her members in different fields of study, their professions, areas of their strength, with their contact details in a Profile Booklet. We intend to submit copies to the FME for a keepsake and reference for possible engagement, in relevant fields of study whenever the need arises.
“COSFAN will like to be included in the list of nominating Agencies for Commonwealth Scholarship Schemes. This will put us in advantage position to support assessment of candidates based on UK Commonwealth six (6) development thematic areas and our experiences”.
Adimula pointed out that government had invested in their careers, and that they were ready to give back to the society that made them, as homegrown technocrats helping the country, acting as possible replacement to expatriates where the need arises.
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