Ex-UNN VC, Nebo seeks review of tertiary institutions curriculum, compulsory skill acquisition
Education
A former Minister of Power, and former vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof Chinedu Nebo has called for a review of the curriculum of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. He advocated that the new curriculum should make skill acquisition compulsory for a graduate of any higher institution.
Nebo stated this at Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, while delivering the 19th Convocation Lecture of the institution on Thursday.
Speaking on the theme: Skills/Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development lamented the lack of prioritisation of skills and entrepreneurship training in tertiary institutions, and insisted that for the country to fight the prevailing joblessness among university graduates, there was need to make sure that every graduate acquired a particular skill that would make him or her self-employeable.
He said: “This ugly situation was borne out of educational policies that started looking down on craftsmanship, technical skills, while preferring paper graduates from universities.
“Nigeria decapitated their technological advancements by throwing the City and Guilds certificate away, and, killing the original intent of the 6-3-3-4 education systems.
“Nigeria is greatly endowed with natural resources such that the country could pass as the most natural resource-endowed in the world, but it is sad that due to corruption and mismanagement, the country is like the world’s prodigal son.
“Politics has become the most viable industry in the country. The country should pursue skills and entrepreneurship training for the citizens so as not only to reverse the stunted development but to also engender Sustainable development,” Nebo said.
Chairman of the convocation lecture, a former Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo state, Dr. Michael Arimanwa stated that the nation’s development can only take place if emphasis is shifted from giving political position a priority to empowering the citizens to be productive and self-dependent.
Rector of the institution, Dr. Francisca Nwafulugo stated that the essence of the convocation lecture was for cross-fertilisation of ideas, for improved growth in the programmes of the institutions.
