Enase Okonedo Quotes

Our educational system lacks robustness as it is largely geared towards a narrow focus. In the majority of schools, the emphasis is on maths and English, overlooking international languages and extracurricular activities such as music, sports and the arts.

The majority of youth who get absorbed by tertiary institutions are trained with a theoretical or academic emphasis. Therefore, they may not be equipped with relevant competencies in order to be employable, further exacerbating the problem of youth unemployment. Another major challenge we face is the passive outlook of regulators, who are slow to set higher standards so that our graduates can compete with their peers globally.

Our educational system leans heavily towards academics and learning by rote, leaving little room for initiative. I fear this may produce a set of graduates who are unable to think outside the box and who struggle with problem solving in real life. We are producing graduates who may not have skills such as creative problem solving, adaptability and initiative.

Nigerian secondary and tertiary institutions have important roles to play in preparing students for professional life. The curriculum for secondary education seems adequate, however, the measure of quality has been reduced to strictly academic concerns. This trend is evident not only in public schools but also in private schools.

The primary function of education is to equip a society with the intellectual manpower to effect change and drive industries, stimulating innovation and creating opportunities for the future. Nigeria is faced with a serious challenge: a large percentage of our youth are unemployed, while employers are constantly searching for skilled employees to no avail.

Tertiary institutions have witnessed some improvement in recent years. However, challenges that range from frequent strikes to a lack of funding have plagued the university system for years.