§ Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why only one African has been appointed to the post of education in Nigeria; what steps are being taken to ensure that administrative offices shall be filled by qualified and trained Africans; and whether he will state the number of such posts now filled by Europeans?
§ Colonel StanleyWithin recent years three Africans have been appointed to the post of Education Officer in the Nigerian Education Department. It is the declared policy of the Government to facilitate the appointment of qualified Africans to vacancies in the higher grades of the Civil Service as and when suitable candidates become available. A progressively increasing degree of Africanisation is aimed at and the provision of suitable candidates will be one of the problems which the Commission of Inquiry into higher education in West Africa will be considering. As regards the last part of the Question, the answer is 81.