Peter Okebukola, former executive secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) while delivering a keynote address on the Reconstructing the Shattered Education Mirror: Hard Choices We Cannot Side Step observed that university education system in the years leading to the oil boom of the 1970s attracted respectable funding and the quality of delivery was comparable to what obtained in institutions all over the world.
Okebukola pointed out that between 1965 and 1970; Nigeria contributed the highest in Africa to the international literature in science, engineering, medicine, social sciences and arts.
He however, observes that the oil boom of the early 70s upstaged the system as the huge injection of funds into the system started to wane. This triggered a slight depression in the quality of delivery, though not dramatic enough to upstage the eminence of Nigeria in the African higher education space.
Those familiar with the matter in the education sector opine that the importance of reforms in a critical level of education like the universities holds the key to Nigerian economy when looked at from the immerse contribution from her human capital assets.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) identify higher education as crucial to the attainment of economic wellbeing, innovation and knowledge-driven growth.
Nigeria with a population of over 180 million is estimated to have about 60 percent of the population within the ages of 18 to 35 years who fall into the category of eligible university candidates.
Be that as it may, Universities are set up to among other things produce human capital, knowledge and research necessary to help in economic growth across all sectors.
Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics indicate that an estimated 1.8 million graduates enter the job market yearly. Industry close watchers in the education sector said that to channel the human resources capability of this number of job seekers, there is the need for a more desirable and meaningful strategy to tackle the challenges facing the Nigerian university level of education, adding that reforms in that space should be approached in a more pragmatic manner that would ensure sustainability.
Reports indicate that the long years of neglect by successive governments trigged numerous challenges ranging from, underfunding, eroded ethical values and academic standards, poor planning and implementation, among others have over the years hamper the university education from performing one of their major and most important roles which is, being the major driver of Nigerian’s economic development.
Stakeholders observe that the current 7 percent of the education sectorial allocation cannot achieve the needed or aspired economic growth and development.
According to them, “It is therefore recommended the government should endeavour to meet up with and even strive to exceed the 26% benchmark allocation to education as recommended by the UNESCO”.
Tolu Odugbemi, a former vice chancellor, university of Lagos was quoted to have said that the role of university education in economic growth is clear; stressing those managers of the economy must develop and strengthen tertiary institutions in the country through knowledge sharing and skill attainment.
He opines that the country’s knowledge creating institutions must be nurtured to solve the problems unique to us. Nigeria has a vast potential that continues to go untapped. We must harness it!
Not only do they produce and train talent needed for a 21st century economy, but also nurture minds that can create the next innovation in issues such as sustainable development, waste management, communications among others.
Okebukola is worried that Tertiary education are failing to prepare students for the world of work and failing to contribute to national regeneration.
“The technical and vocational skills programmes that are oriented towards teaching traditional skills are not necessarily linked to market needs and do not place the graduates at a competitive advantage with their university counterparts”, he said.
KELECHI EWUZIE
