Today, we mark the International Day of Education 2021. This annual observance, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, is held every 24th day of January and is dedicated to education.

On the International Day of Education, we re-emphasize the global position that education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility.

The theme of this year's celebration is, '' Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation’'.

We celebrate the role of education in world peace and development. Education sharpens the mind and reshapes people's worldview for the better and further closes the poverty gap which continues to affect millions of children, youth and adults.

The importance of functional education in today's world cannot be overemphasized. There is the need to heighten the conversation against the violation of the right to children's education.

This is the time to increase the various approaches to acquiring education by stepping up collaboration and international solidarity to place education and lifelong learning at the centre of the various covid-19 recovery and response efforts.

H.E. Barr. Chioma Uzodimma
First Lady, Imo State