Education

Nigeria must discard colonial education system – Dogara

 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has advocated a change in Nigeria’s system of education to focus on development of talents, rather than training of students to be employable only.

This, he added, will put an end to the practice of churning out graduates that depend on others.

Speaking at the weekend on the topic, “Leadership by Products: The Role of Universities,” at the matriculation ceremony of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, as the Guest Speaker,  Dogara, argued that it is time for an education system that will leave a mark that will force the world to make a room for graduates of Nigerian schools.

“You can be intelligent, smart and skillful but if that is all you have got, it’s an employer that will hire and pay you. But when you discover, develop and release your gift, it’s the world that pays you. Unfortunately, our education system was not designed to train students to identify and develop their gifts but to train us to be employable. For Nigeria and indeed Africa to make the needed progress we must discard this colonial masters’ design of an education system that continues to churn out products that depend on others rather than products we can depend on.

“Education is not necessarily the key to success and just like democracy, education guarantees nothing. I say so because the Bible does not say that a man’s education makes room for him, but that his gift does. Again, if education were the key to success, then all professors, all Ph.D holders and all the educated will be prosperous, stable, secure and happy. But sadly that is not always the case because it is one’s gift that is the key to his success,” he added.

The Speaker commended Covenant University for delivering innovative tools, some of which have been adopted by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

He conveyed the National Assembly’s willingness to consider request for new laws that will support and encourage the best research endeavours that will solve the nation’s economic and social problems.

“If private universities are focused, they could overtake the public universities as theatres of innovation and quality research, thereby becoming more competitive, which is the correct trend in developed economies. In this regard, the National Assembly could consider laws that will promote productive research partnerships between private and public universities. If this will enhance the competitive and ranking capabilities of our universities, so be it.”

While acknowledging that studying in private universities is expensive and may not be affordable to all those willing to be educated, Hon. Dogara, however, called for the establishment of student loan scheme saying, ” he said.

In his remarks, Chairman, Board of Regents and Chancellor of the University, Dr David Oyedepo, expressed gratitude to Good that 15 years after its establishment, the university had made remarkable progress in academics.

He told the students that the university placed priority on moral and spiritual upbringing, advising them to adhere to the rules and regulations of the university.

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