HEALTH EDUCATION AS A PARADIGM TO ACHIEVING VISION 2020 IN NIGERIA NATION
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
According to Professor Emmanuel Ofeme, in Owerri, while delivering lecture at the 2nd Sam Okwaraji Memorial Lecture, Published by Chimaobi Uchendu, in the Sun News online sports of Friday, September 19, 2008, he said that unlike vision 2010, which was collaborative in its formulation and comprehensiveness
in articulation in scope, Vision 2020 is only a single track, very large organization, but low to change and interest of the people type of development strategy for the national economy of Nigeria, as it is only defined in terms of economy. This is the financial system strategy (FSS, 2020) model. Its main focus is to make Nigeria to become among the 20 best developed economics in the World by the Year 2020.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, is the source and author of this great vision 2020, which he recorded in 2007, and has listed educational reforms, among others, as vital to its actualization. In this write-up, the Health Education as a paradigm to the achieving of vision
2020 goals in Nigeria nation, shows the when, what, where and how the knowledge of Health Education can facilitate effectively the achievement of the Vision 2020 goals. And by referring to the National Policy of Education, or objective, Section 1, subsection 4(a), which says that, Education is an instrument for
national development, to this end, the formulation of ideas, their integration for national development, and interaction of persons and ideas are all aspects of education. This implies that, the education of a nation will result to a better citizen, made up of individuals who are mostly independent and can contribute, and take decisions to the benefit of their nation, and also themselves. And a country where people can live effectively
and healthy life will be easily developed through given health instruction and education to the people living in it.
According to an extract from the Keynote Address Delivered by Dr. P.S. Dakum, in Nigeria Journal of Health Education (NJHE), Vol. 15, No. 1, 2005, health in relationship to education is crucial to the development and advancement of the Nigeria economy. For Nigerians, only those who are educated, that can carry on the economical progress of the country. But to have a sound education for meaningful development, all Nigerians need to be healthy. But, furthermore, according to the reference given above, low level of health will result to low level education. To buttress home my point, to realize the goals of vision 2020 effectively, through the use of health education, there is need for the government and people of Nigeria to utilize Health Education tools, like access to good roads, building health care centre and providing adequate drugs, and also involving technocrats as administrators in various ministries, etc.
Statement of the Problem
The under-development and impoverished situation of the Nigerian economy, as it is visible in every time siphoning of the nation’s wealth to foreign banks, by incompetent leaders of this country. Insecurity of lives and properties, gross misconduct and corruption in high places, including among the law enforcement agencies and the police. Bad leadership and other existing unhealthy situation that has crippled the development of this country are the problems to be tackled.
Purpose of the Study
The way, thorough which educating of Nigerians, about their health and other health-related issues, can bring about a high standard of living. And tremendous advancement of the nation’s economy, to place it among the 20 best economies of the world by the year 2020, is what this project work entails.
Research Questions
1. How can vision 2020 goals using Health Education tools bring the all needed development?
2. Are the vision 2020 goals different from the developmental changes needed in Nigeria?
3. Is the peace of this nation different from the security of lives and properties?
4. Is the independence of the judiciary different from good leadership in Nigeria?