A LACK OF QUALITATIVE EDUCATION: NIGERIANS NUMBER ONE PROBLEM.

I wrote these pieces two years ago when asked to write on a political or economic problem in Nigeria. while the article is dated, the issues raised are still relevant and more critical today. 

In selecting a topic for this paper I decided on a problem in the Nigerian society ( my home country) that is both an economic and political one. Thus, find what I hope is a detailed analysis of the paralyzing lack of qualitative education in Nigeria.

After independence in 1960 Nigeria hard a large number of primary and secondary schools, with an emerging number of strong public universities that will soon start not only to serve Nigeria but also the sub-saharan region wonderfully well. All appeared to be well, with Nigerian schools producing internationally acceptable Engineers and other professionals alike, that will help build and serve Nigerian's growing number of industries. With huge investments going into Education and Agriculture, all seemed to be good until OIL was first successfully explored and production began; in the blink of an eye investments in Education declined sharply; with Oil the national priority all government resources were invested in the sector alone; at that time it wasn’t a problem, Nigerian primary and secondary schools still had qualified teachers, with well equip laboratories, the baby boomer generation had not been born yet and our universities still boasted of qualified Lecturers and Professors from all over the world, with population still under control, universities could still serve their students body well. And so government kept saying everything is alright and no body bothered to ask the question, HOW ABOUT IN TH E NEXT 20 YEARS AND BEYOND?


 Today with a lack of an educated work force and lack of schools to train the populace, Nigeria is brain draining herself. For example in the oil and gas sector over 60% of the top level work force from ground level Engineers are held by foreigns. With the 80% Nigerian populace working in the sector not trained in Nigeria. So in the countries main source of income, Nigerians are left out of running it because they do not have the required skills and education. When the Ministry of Petroleum began a partnership with the petroleum companies operating in Nigeria to start employing the services of Nigerian’s in their work force, in anticipation of the passage of the petroleum industry content bill, the partnership soon failed as there were no Engineers and Tacticians with the required skills to be to employed by the companies. 


 The Central Bank of Nigeria recently released monies for credit to farmers in the country in other to allow them increase production, thus, creating a food security net for the country and also bringing about economic growth. In the countries North, the region that feeds the nation, an insignificant number of farmers accessed the loan; in an investigation into this, it was found that most farmers had no basic knowledge on collecting loans from banks, most had no media access that will allow them get informed about the credit scheme; in this modern age we still have people with no basic education to allow them know the principles of business expansion and how loans from banks can help with that. This is in a country that is the 6th largest producer of oil.



 When the Central Bank governor made a statement that the National assembly of the nation spends 25% of the countries budget every year as its total overhead budget, an uproar was the result of his statement in the national assembly, this was followed by threats of impeachment and in the hearings that took place in the senate with the Central Bank Governor facing questions, to the amazement of the nation, the countries Senators and members of the house had no idea what an overhead budget meant. The legislature recently proposed a budget for the country that even the countries Minister of Finance categorized as unimplementable and had no reasonable economic policy backing it.

 What a lack of education has cost Nigeria is failed leadership; with our leaders uneducated on issues and policy thus resulting in a campaign of sentiment; and a populace without the required skills, training and education to challenge the leaders of the nation in the policies they set forth. This has created a political problem, with the government of the country failing to meet is responsibilities; a result of bad government policies built by a lack of solid education.


 WHAT CAN BE DONE?


The recent result of final year secondary students released, with only 1.3% passing indicates a national emergency, that will require massive work hours and huge amounts of resources to fix.
 
 A review of the university system must be done in oder to effectively pin point the loopholes in the system, with greater funding to be provided for the countries universities; funds that will allow them expand, employ new lecturers, build new infrastructure, continue stopped research.


 A student quota number most be enforced for all universities and adherence must be maintained.


 New universities should be built to meet up with the high demand, a result of the baby boomer generation and public private partnership should be done to ensure high, quality education in quantity in the nation.
 
 A phased approach should be taken to fix both secondary and primary schools. With the responsibility for their financing and regulation given to state and local governments. New equipment most be provided for schools, with an extensive provision for materials, like textbooks, Desks and tables, class boards and modern ICT facilities. A massive program to train teachers most be started, teaching should become a National honor and teachers must be paid comfortable salaries based on student performance. In consultation with other west african countries a review most be conducted, in order to change the existing secondary school finial year testing system, which encourages students to only remember but not to understand.


 If our universities are upgraded, our primary and secondary schools reformed, the country will be able to bring about growth in its economic and political sector. When people are empowered with skills, there are bound to do great things, Agricultural production will increase; as farmers will have knowledge about new farming techniques and market demand for their products; new industries will come to life, Nigeria will finally be able to control a high stake in the oil and gas sector and our leaders will be a new generation of knowledge empowered people; with skills needed to run a country; as they have passed through an electioneering process; drilled and elected by knowledgeable people, who finally elect their leaders not based on sentiments but based on who has the brains and strength to get the job done; these will be leaders that will finally address problems of infrastructure, power and many others in the county, providing the foundation to foster growth that will be powered by a new educated and skilled workforce.


 However, the will be huddles in the match to revamp the education sector; change and progress will take time but a lack of fast and quick success rate might kill political will. A large number of the adult population will not go back into the education system but this can be fixed with the building and equipping of vocational centers to allow adults pick up marketable skills. Special adults school can also be provided. There need to fix this problem is urgent, the stake has never been higher, recently Festo automation Germany said and I quote “ we have been looking for Mechatronics Engineers to employ in Nigeria but we have found none”. 

This is a problem that much be fixed it is not only an economic problem; it is not only a political problem, it is a matter of life and death. They will be huddles, they will be challenges but the problem will have to be addressed head on; a choice must be made between a future of strong economic growth, a new middle class, an effective democratic systems; a result of a largely educated workforce; or a future filled will conflicts; a future of economic stagnation, a future of imprisonment of the human brain, a future where the world will be headed towards the 22nd century and Nigerian we still be stock in the 20th century.

Our very survival depends on this.