Victoria Mgbanwa
The Governor of Cross River state, Bassey Otu has lauded the efforts of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in improving infrastructure within Nigeria’s educational sector.
Otu also lauded the efforts of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in improving infrastructure within Nigeria’s educational sector.
The Governor made this comment during his visit to the TETFund headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms in the country’s education system to equip graduates with practical skills.
In his address, Otu highlighted the pressing challenges facing Nigerian education, contrasting it with the achievements of other nations, particularly Ghana.
He said, “We are here, actually today, to put it on record that you’ve been doing well, and we do need your help and support. Nigeria has a very big problem, apart from the fact that other entities and realms have moved beyond in terms of education. Nigeria, education is one of the problems where we find ourselves, where we are today.
“You will agree with me that even when you visit even as close as Ghana, here, they will introduce Nigerian professor as a professor from Nigeria, while other professors are introduced as professors. And we know because in my days in school, we had too many international students, even the South Africans that are very hostile to Nigerians today, all went through here with very good education.
“I think somewhere along the line, we lost it, probably in terms of priority. But like they say, it always, it was always better late than never. It is time to give, if not this, our generation some hope we give the young one coming so that they will make Nigeria proud.”
Otu further revealed plans to transform the College of Education in Cross River into the first University of Education and Entrepreneurship in Nigeria, stating that the initiative was aimed at providing students with essential skills for the job market, allowing them to graduate with competencies in at least two areas—one in education and another in vocational skills.
“Actually, the College of Education. We are upgrading it to University of education and entrepreneurship, and this is going to be the first one in the country. That’s why we’re consoliciting for very genuine and strong support. I say so because we continue to produce thousands of graduates that are not employable.
“They can’t be engaged anywhere. And we also agree that most of the times, things that you learn study in schools are not things you practice outside, you can only apply the knowledge which you gather from there to you to do it, and the day to day ruling of affairs.
“So we’ve gotten to that point which we have to change it, and we want every student that goes out of this university to be able to have at least not less than two skills, And he should be able to defend two thesis, one in education and the other one or two in the skills which he has acquired.” He said.
The governor also stressed the importance of aligning education with the global job market, particularly in light of Nigeria’s demographic advantages. He proposed a focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to prepare students for emerging opportunities in outsourcing, echoing Echono’s remarks about the potential for Nigeria to become a hub for such jobs.
In response, the Executive Secretary of TETFund Sonny Echono commended the governor’s vision, aligning it with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call for greater emphasis on technology in education, emphasizing on the necessity of transforming educational approaches to ensure that Nigerian graduates can compete globally.
Echono said, “We are very honored to have you come here today and for us with a very kind words you’ve said about our organization.
“The issue of the conversion of the College of Education to a specialized, eh, University of Education and ICT. I think it is a profound and again, it’s consistent with the type of thinking that you have. The reality is that I felt so happy hearing him because he sits there is a whole lot of congruency between his vision and that of Mr President.
“Mr president gave us a task to ensure that every Nigerian child graduating from our tertiary institutions must have proficiency in ICT and technology skills in addition to whatever cause, and they will study in the university.
“And we have been taking steps towards this, especially by promoting various digital resources that we want to make available to students in our beneficiary institutions. We are also tapping into the global and sourcing market that he’s talked about.”
Echono also touched on the need for a shift from indigenship to citizenship in the educational landscape, advocating for policies that promote inclusivity and national unity.
“We should give serious consideration to what his exellency is just saying a need for us to de emphasize indigenship in this Country and emphasize citizenship that as a people we are already, we’ve subscribed to a nation, to a country. We should build that nation by integrating our people, by uniting our people.
“So all these differences about where you were born, there are so many kids who didn’t even know where their parents came from, because they’ve lived in a particular location all their lives, and yet, when it is time to take school SAT or time to go and get admission to university, you say, go and bring your state of origin, and you are giving them different cut offs when they have no relationship with that environment whatsoever.” He added.overnor made this comment during his visit to the TETFund headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms in the country’s education system to equip graduates with practical skills.
In his address, Otu highlighted the pressing challenges facing Nigerian education, contrasting it with the achievements of other nations, particularly Ghana.
He said, “We are here, actually today, to put it on record that you’ve been doing well, and we do need your help and support. Nigeria has a very big problem, apart from the fact that other entities and realms have moved beyond in terms of education. Nigeria, education is one of the problems where we find ourselves, where we are today.
“You will agree with me that even when you visit even as close as Ghana, here, they will introduce Nigerian professor as a professor from Nigeria, while other professors are introduced as professors. And we know because in my days in school, we had too many international students, even the South Africans that are very hostile to Nigerians today, all went through here with very good education.
“I think somewhere along the line, we lost it, probably in terms of priority. But like they say, it always, it was always better late than never. It is time to give, if not this, our generation some hope we give the young one coming so that they will make Nigeria proud.”
Otu further revealed plans to transform the College of Education in Cross River into the first University of Education and Entrepreneurship in Nigeria, stating that the initiative was aimed at providing students with essential skills for the job market, allowing them to graduate with competencies in at least two areas—one in education and another in vocational skills.
“Actually, the College of Education. We are upgrading it to University of education and entrepreneurship, and this is going to be the first one in the country. That’s why we’re consoliciting for very genuine and strong support. I say so because we continue to produce thousands of graduates that are not employable.
“They can’t be engaged anywhere. And we also agree that most of the times, things that you learn study in schools are not things you practice outside, you can only apply the knowledge which you gather from there to you to do it, and the day to day ruling of affairs.
“So we’ve gotten to that point which we have to change it, and we want every student that goes out of this university to be able to have at least not less than two skills, And he should be able to defend two thesis, one in education and the other one or two in the skills which he has acquired.” He said.
The governor also stressed the importance of aligning education with the global job market, particularly in light of Nigeria’s demographic advantages. He proposed a focus on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to prepare students for emerging opportunities in outsourcing, echoing Echono’s remarks about the potential for Nigeria to become a hub for such jobs.
In response, the Executive Secretary of TETFund Sonny Echono commended the governor’s vision, aligning it with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call for greater emphasis on technology in education, emphasizing on the necessity of transforming educational approaches to ensure that Nigerian graduates can compete globally.
Echono said, “We are very honored to have you come here today and for us with a very kind words you’ve said about our organization.
“The issue of the conversion of the College of Education to a specialized, eh, University of Education and ICT. I think it is a profound and again, it’s consistent with the type of thinking that you have. The reality is that I felt so happy hearing him because he sits there is a whole lot of congruency between his vision and that of Mr President.
“Mr president gave us a task to ensure that every Nigerian child graduating from our tertiary institutions must have proficiency in ICT and technology skills in addition to whatever cause, and they will study in the university.
“And we have been taking steps towards this, especially by promoting various digital resources that we want to make available to students in our beneficiary institutions. We are also tapping into the global and sourcing market that he’s talked about.”
Echono also touched on the need for a shift from indigenship to citizenship in the educational landscape, advocating for policies that promote inclusivity and national unity.
“We should give serious consideration to what his exellency is just saying a need for us to de emphasize indigenship in this Country and emphasize citizenship that as a people we are already, we’ve subscribed to a nation, to a country. We should build that nation by integrating our people, by uniting our people.
“So all these differences about where you were born, there are so many kids who didn’t even know where their parents came from, because they’ve lived in a particular location all their lives, and yet, when it is time to take school SAT or time to go and get admission to university, you say, go and bring your state of origin, and you are giving them different cut offs when they have no relationship with that environment whatsoever.” He added.
