Gov Lists Obstacles To Nigeria’s Dev

Lagos state governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, has identified the inability of  the authorities of educational institutions to create links between knowledge generation and enterprise development as one of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria and other developing countries.

Governor Fashola who made his feelings known in a lecture entitled “Nigeria And Its Abundance Of Possibilities”,  delivered at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium and Unity Hall,  as part of the activities marking the 40th  convocation ceremony of the  University of Nigeria Nsukka  (UNN), regretted that for decades tertiary institutions in Nigeria had left their inherited curricula virtually changed.

“As a result, we have not trained our graduates in tandem with the requirements of our communities. We have produced graduates in the areas where our economy makes no demand of them. Currently, we are a country that imports everything, including footwear, bags and leader products. With a population of 150 million and growth rate of 2.27 %, if we do not begin to create goods and services for ourselves , how can we ever resolve the quandary of unemployment”, the Governor wondered.

He  expressed disappointment that available records show that the collective output of indigenous oil companies in Nigeria amounts to only 1% of total oil production, despite the fact that the local content Act of 2005 set a target of 70% to be attained by 2010.

According to him,  “It is an irony of fate that 50 years post independence, our indigenous companies have only been able to get marginal fields. This is a clear indication that even our biggest industry remains a closet of missed opportunities for Nigerians. Nigeria must urgently begin the process of  harnessing  these plenteous potentials not just to create employment for our youths , but to develop  our society as a whole”.

Using Lagos State as a reference point, Fashola  said: “We have resolved that talking less and doing more is the surest way to demonstrate that these possibilities are real and within our people’s reach. We have therefore paid closer attention to technical education, providing more funds, retraining the teachers , acquiring equipment and reviewing the curriculum to  ensure availability of training in the more contemporary of need.”

He maintained that Lagos is linking the affected educational institutions directly with relevant industries where their skills are required for employment after training, and  expressed satisfaction that a close association now exists between each of the departments and companies in the field so that training is influenced directly by the current demand of industries in the state.

He, however, advised youths in Nigeria to get more interested and involved in the affairs of the nation, reasoning that as future leaders they cannot afford to sit on the fence, and urged students in institutions of higher learning in the country to organise public debate for all the presidential candidates contesting the forthcoming  April 2011 presidential election .