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SV Lt. General Olusegun Obasanjo, signing children up for classes.
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SV Children queuing
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SV Lt. Olusegun Obasanjo standing on rostrum.
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CU Lt. Obasanjo speaking "Fellow Nigerians .....that lie ahead."
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"Fellow Nigerians, school boys and girls. The launching of the Universal Free Primary Education scheme today marks the dawn of a new are in the history of educational development in this country.



400,000 teachers have been recruited to implement the scheme and a mammoth building programme to build new schools is underway in every part of the country. Although it is the primary responsibility of regional education authorities to administer the schools, the bulk of the finance for the project will initially be supplied by the federal government.




Initials VS 21.30



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Nigeria entered a new era on Monday (6 September) with the launching of its universal primary education programme.

SYNOPSIS: It was launched by Head-of-State, Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo in the capital, Lagos. Under the programme two and a half million Nigerian children from the age of six will be able to go to school free of charge. And as some of the new students arrived to enrol on Monday Lieutenant Obasanjo was there to sign them into the register. At present primary school education is optional, but after 1980 it will become compulsory.

At the official launching of the programme Lieutenant General Obasanjo outlined the aims of the plan.

It also demonstrates the determination of the Federal Military Government to provide equal educational opportunities for all children of school age, irrespective of the circumstances of their birth. Every Nigerian child should regard basic education as his natural heritage, right and not a privilege. It is the civic obligation of the children to attend classes regularly and punctually, to study diligently, to be obedient and law abiding, to become good and patriotic citizens who will serve their fatherland faithfully and loyally in whatever positions they find themselves in the years that lie ahead."