Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, has known as on Nigerian universities to urgently overhaul their educational system by putting larger emphasis on sensible expertise, innovation and entrepreneurship somewhat than the mere acquisition of certificates.
Okonkwo stated the nation’s larger schooling establishments should produce graduates outfitted with competencies that handle real-world challenges, enhance employability and drive nationwide growth.
He made the decision on Tuesday whereas delivering the 14th Convocation Lecture of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), titled “Functional Education and the Nigerian Project: Strategic Human Capital Development for National Renewal,” on the Alfa Belgore Multipurpose Hall, Ado-Ekiti.
According to him, the relevance of schooling ought to not be measured by the variety of certificates awarded however by graduates’ capability to clear up issues, create worth and contribute meaningfully to financial progress.
He advocated a transition from content-based instructing to competency-driven studying that develops essential considering, creativity, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, moral management and sensible problem-solving talents.
Okonkwo confused that authorities and universities should make investments extra in technical and vocational schooling, trendy laboratories, engineering workshops, analysis amenities and different infrastructure able to exposing college students to sensible experiences related to their professions.
The United Nigeria Airlines chairman additionally urged stronger collaboration between universities, industries and authorities to guarantee educational programmes stay aligned with labour market realities and rising financial alternatives.
He stated such partnerships would supply college students with sensible office expertise earlier than commencement, improve their employability and stimulate indigenous innovation and know-how growth.
Highlighting United Nigeria Airlines’ collaboration with ABUAD, Okonkwo stated college students of the college’s Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering programme at the moment endure six months of business coaching on the airline’s engineering facility in Lagos, the place they obtain hands-on expertise in plane upkeep, avionics, aviation security {and professional} engineering apply.
He challenged extra personal sector organisations to set up comparable partnerships via internships, apprenticeships, analysis collaborations and know-how switch initiatives.
Okonkwo additional known as on universities to commercialise analysis outputs, stressing that larger establishments ought to transfer past data technology to producing sensible options able to addressing Nigeria’s developmental challenges.
Responding, Founder of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), stated the lecture bolstered his long-held concern over the disconnect between college schooling and the sensible expertise graduates require after leaving college.
Babalola urged the Federal Government to evaluate college curricula to guarantee graduates purchase skilled competencies able to making them job creators somewhat than job seekers.
He additionally advocated stricter regulatory measures within the approval of personal universities, insisting that licensing authorities ought to conduct thorough bodily inspections to confirm the provision of enough infrastructure earlier than granting operational licences.
The authorized icon disclosed that he had constituted a panel comprising eight vice-chancellors to suggest further measures for strengthening ABUAD’s educational requirements.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of ABUAD, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, described the convocation lecture as a well timed platform for inspecting how schooling can higher develop the abilities, character and modern capability required for Nigeria’s sustainable growth.
She counseled Okonkwo and United Nigeria Airlines for supporting sensible schooling via their partnership with the college and known as for sustained collaboration between academia and trade to produce graduates able to assembly the calls for of the fashionable financial system.
