Nation
Nigeria Has Recorded Improvement In Human Capital Dev-Don
A lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Christian Madu, says Nigeria has recorded tremendous improvement in human capital development and literacy level over the years.
Madu disclosed this when he spoke with The Tide source yesterday in Enugu.
He said that the country could boast of well-trained professionals and artisans in all fields of human endeavours adding that the entrepreneurial spirits of Nigerians drive these successes.
According to him, many of the Nigerian families understand the value of education and they are willing to invest in their children’s education.
“In most parts of the country especially the South-East and South-West, families can boast of at least a member with a university or higher education qualification.
“This is remarkable. In the 1960s after the independence, many families could not even boast of a member with secondary school education,” he said.
Madu, a Professor of Environmental Management and Control, however, said that the government has not done enough to ensure that the country sustain these gains in human capital development and literacy level.
“In 2020, Nigeria allocated 6.7 per cent of its national budget to education.
“According to a PrimeTime article of Oct. 24, 2020, the Federal Government dedicated only 5.6 per cent of its 2021 budget to education, which is Nigeria’s lowest in 10 years.
“This is a steep decline in the allocation for the education sector. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendation is an international benchmark of between 15 and 20 per cent.
“Thus, we can see that the nation is far from this benchmark. Some public schools are so dilapidated and students in both the public and private schools hardly get any support from the government,” he said.
The don added:”Many of the achievements are through self efforts and family support. Our people have managed to find ways to educate themselves even under unbearable situations. Many have travelled abroad and have made their marks there.”
Madu, who is a supervisor of lead researchers at the Centre for Environmental Management and Control, UNN, said that the country exports technical and highly skilled labours to all parts of the world.
According to him, in almost any industrial nation you visit today, you will find Nigerians in the Diaspora as doctors, nurses, engineers, professors and so on.
“Those in Diaspora have also become the life support of the country. They take care of many families at home to contain the massive unemployment in Nigeria.
“According to the World Bank report titled “Migration and Development Brief,” Nigerians in the Diaspora remitted a whopping 23.24 billion dollars in 2019 and 16.8 billion dollars in 2020 showing a drop of about 27.7 per cent.
“The significance of this is that human capital development can actually help to bring stability and sustainability in the country by containing the increase in youth unemployment.
“The government needs to pay more attention to the education sector. It should also make serious efforts to tap into the wealth of professionals that are resident in other countries.We should be taking advantage of these resources rather than let them be the resources for other nations,” he said.
The don said that the country needed to emphasise more on technological skills for economic development.
“We are in a digital era, what the citizens need is little support from the government to actualise their goals.
“In places like Lagos and Enugu, computer villages are gradually emerging and the indigenous proficiencies that have been developed should be harnessed and not killed by excessive government interference in running such vital businesses,” he added
An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre is set to be established in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The initiative is being championed by the Omoku People’s Forum, a global association of Omoku elites, under the leadership of its President-General, Dr. George Ada Ubah.
As part of efforts to ensure the successful execution of the project, a prominent son of Omoku, Chief (Barr.) Dennis Masi, has been appointed by the Forum as the Chairman of the ICT Centre Project Committee, entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating and driving the initiative to fruition. Upon completion, the ICT Centre is expected to serve as a major hub for the training and empowerment of youths in digital and technological skills, equipping them to actively participate in the increasingly technology-driven global environment.
The project is also widely regarded as a significant step towards positioning Omoku as an emerging ICT hub within Rivers State, fostering innovation, digital literacy, and economic development in the region.
Concerned Rivers Chiefs For Peace And Development has said it formation was not politically motivated or has any links to political parties or candidates.
The group which said this at a media briefing at Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area said it’s formation has nothing to do with politics.
According to the text for the briefing jointly signed by Chief Boma Kele Oyika it’s chairman and Chief Inemo T Ikama Deputy Secretary General said the organization is expected to focus on conflict Resolution, community engagement, collaboration with government and private sector actors
‘it mandate also includes promoting peace building initiative, supporting local economic empowerment programms and strengthening traditional institutions in our state and beyond as partners in governance ”
It said the body is led by a team of respected traditional leaders serving as trustees
“Their collective leadership reflects a blend of experience cultural authority and grassroots connection
“Key elements considered vital for addressing long standing,socio economic and security challenges in the region”
The release further says ” the formation of this organization comes at a time when communities in Rivers state continue to navigate between issues ranging from youth unemployment, environmental concerns and intermittent conflicts amongst the traditional rulers and beyond
“By bringing together influential traditional figures under a unified platform, the group aims at serving as stabilizing force while advocating for inclusive development policies ” it said
It also described its emergence as a new chapter in grass roots leadership and regional development
Earlier, chairman of the body, Chief Boma Kele Oyika said the organization will work with relevant authorities to promote peaceful coexistence in the state, reduce crime and promote economic development.
He said it is open to all Chiefs from the 23 local government areas.
The Chairman of The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture NDCCTMA,Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) Dr Samuel Ogbuku have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Demostic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The two leaders spoke at a business round table organized by NDDCTMA in Port Harcourt
Chairman of NDDCTMA Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase “he said
Ogan said the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where
“That is why we are gathered here in this room “he said.
Also speaking Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC) Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city,we have gone to Lagos,we have moved our families to Abuja and Lagos
“If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
He said time has come for potential investors from the region to have a change of heart by coming home to invest.
John Bibor