Connect with us

Rivers

Don Faults Nigeria’s Educational System …Advocates Deschooling To Attain Educated Society Status

Published

on

A lecturer in the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Professor Edward Ezebuaghom Adiele, has faulted Nigeria’s educational system, saying it awards degrees without the awardees acquiring commensurate skills.
Speaking as the 55th Inaugural Lecture of the university on the topic, “Epidemiology of the Paralytic and Epileptic Nigeria’s Education System: Towards Epistemological Oriented Based Economy”, at the university’s auditorium, Professor Adiele accused universities of having anti-educational effect on the society by their “role in awarding certificates, diplomas and degrees without commensurate knowledge and skills by those who possess such certificates and degrees”.
According to the Professor of Educational Planning, “schooling is not the only means of acquiring education, hence associating education with schooling portends serious danger to the society.
“It reduces the chances of the citizens acquiring other forms of alternative education that can be acquired outside the school environment which are equally important for individual survival and contribution to societal development”
He stated that “the erroneously held idea about schooling and education also account for the reason society looks down on people who did not attend school, but have developed their potentials and talents through other forms of education.
According to him, approximating education to schooling also negates the fact that schools may not be the best place to produce the best craftsmen, artisans, businessmen, musicians, footballers, film actors and actresses that are badly needed for economic development.
“It is because of the wrong idea of taking schooling for education that every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to empty themselves into educational institutions even when they do not possess the requisite aptitude for higher education schooling”, he emphsised.
Professor Adiele noted that funding of education in Nigeria is another major challenge that is seriously responsible for the numerous ailments the education system is suffering from.
“Budgetary allocations to education, which on the average, has never exceeded 10 percent, does not show any seriousness on the part of government in Nigeria to provide education to the citizens when compared to other less endowed countries like Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Tunisia and Morocco where budgetary allocations to education range between 19 and 20 percent”, he stated.
The university teacher continued that poor funding of education sector is responsible for poor production of quality manpower to meet the economic development needs of Nigeria.
“These daunting challenges place the education system at a crossroad and at most the system can best be described as paralytic and epileptic”, he said.
The 55th Inaugural Lecturer hinted that the academic curriculum does not take into cognisance the employers of labours’ need “and this has made it difficult for university graduates to fit into the world of work.
“The course content of most tertiary institutions in Nigeria lacks entrepreneurial contents that would enable graduates to become job creators rather than job seekers”.
In addition to the stated challenges faced by Nigeria’s education system, he also identified the role of strikes.
“The incessant strikes by tertiary institutions has also resulted in the production of half-baked graduates who are unemployable”, he stated.
While informing that Nigeria holds the world record of having the highest number of dropouts from school with 20.5 million out of school topping the list of 12 other countries, he hinted that the number may have increased further by now.
“The Nigerian school system has not been able to develop the individual into a sound and effective citizen. The country has remained in the status of a developing economy for the past 47 years because of obvious weak education system”, he emphasised.
He, however, stated that although the causes of the paralytic and epileptic education system are numerous, the Nigerian education system can still be salvaged through a holistic education.
Adiele asserted that the cure to the identified ailments lies within the education system itself.
He said it can be done “by overhauling the system and redirecting it towards epistemological (knowledge) oriented based economy, if at all the country is ready to address the inherent development challenges”.
To attain this, he advocated the imperativeness of a paradigm shift from the old orthodoxy of over reliance on schooling alone as a means of acquiring education, to opening the education market to include the non-formal structures such as apprenticeship schemes, trades and the use of practical skills as a means of certification of claims of knowledge acquisition.
“Any society that genuinely seeks education as a means of effecting national development must do so within the ambit of educational planning framework that is anchored on rational decisions that seek to domesticate the school curriculum to reflect the peculiar Nigerian environment, develop a sound educational information management system, the planning of the non-formal education sector and develop a sound framework for educational financing, and finally, increasing access and equity in educational provision”.
He urged educational planners and policy makers to wake up and assume their rightful position of planning the right education for national survival.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor of IAUE, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, who agreed that the educational system suffer paralytically and epileptically, stated that for anything to be considered educational, “it must transmit cultural heritage to younger generation, develop skills and contribute to nation building”.
He stressed the need to take education and research seriously for growth and to minimise wastage in the system.
Professor Onuchuku observed that the country is stagnated because Nigerians are more of consumers than producers and that the overdependent nature is why the foreign exchange rate is very high.
He stressed the need to deemphasise the importance attached to certificates and to encourage and promote informal education, job creation and trade to reduce the mismatch between graduates and industries and for development.

Sogbeba Dokubo

Continue Reading

Rivers

Revive Nigeria’s Economy, Cleric Urges Tinubu, Leaders

Published

on

The General Overseer of the House of Jesus Christ Ministries, Apostle Joseph Emmanuel, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leaders in general to be more committed in reviving Nigeria’s ailing economy rather than shifting blames.
He dismissed what he called the “don’t blame me” posture of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the hard times currently faced by Nigerians and the killings in some parts of the country.
Speaking with newsmen recently in Port-Harcourt on the outcome of the #EndBadGovernance protest, Emmanuel said such statement amounts to an abdication of responsibility.
He called on Tinubu and other leaders in the country to commence moves of reviving Nigeria’s ailing economy through the quelling of the heat of hardship, hunger and the sufferings of Nigerians under his leadership.
The cleric stressed that as Chief Security Officer of the country, Mr. President and other stakeholders should stop throwing their hands in the air or absolving themselves of blames, except they want to tell Nigerians that they can no longer do their jobs of effective leadership and quality representation.
“Nobody is happy on how the economy is is and managed. Nigerians are wallowing in hunger, abject poverty, hardship, lack of jobs to the people, and their situation is worsening by rhe day, since he became President over one year ago, and this is unacceptable.
“Mr. President and other stakeholders should go back to the drawing board and revive the economy. Particularly, they should ensure that prices of petroleum products come down drastically, so that the cost of living will follow suit.
“President Tinubu should take the blame for the present economic lapses in the country, which had exposed Nigerians to their oresent state of helplessness, and ensure that anyone in hos cabinet that’s not living up to expectation shoild be shown the exit”, he said.
Emmanuel continued that one way to begin a thorough revival of the economy is to “bribg back the refineries to life, in order to reduce the pomp orice of fuel from N1,850.00 to not more than N300.00”.
Apostle Emmanuel also commended the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, “for bringing out Rivers people from political slavery to the path of quality service delivery and good governance within the space of one year on the saddle of governance in the state”.
He described the Governor as a leader, assuring that the church will not relent in praying for the success of his administration.
He used to the opportunity to appeal to all aggrieved persons in the political crisis in the state to embrace peace, “if for nothing else, for the sake of the well-being of Rivers people”.
Emmanuel also urged Rivers people to rally support for the Governor to enable him deliver more democratic dividends to them.

Bethel Toby

Continue Reading

Rivers

RVCHPP Hails Fubara’s Leadership …Assures Robust Sensitisation

Published

on

The Acting Executive Secretary of Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr. Vetty Agala, has commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on the occasion of Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebration for what she called his “visionary leadership and unwavering support in making RIVCHPP a reality”.
Dr. Agala, who made the commendation in a message issued to RIVCHPP family to mark the Independence Day, said the Governor’s commitment to the health and well-being of Rivers State residents is truly commendable.
Agala also expressed gratitude to the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, for her “strategic leadership and tireless efforts in shaping the health sector”.
She said such dedication has “ensured quality health care services for all Rivers residents is inspiring”.
Dr. Agala also used the occasion of the Independence celebration to appreciate the RIVCHPP team for their collective efforts towards building a healthier Rivers State and the Nigeria nation.
She said, “Your dedication, hard work, and commitment to delivering exceptional services have been instrumental in shaping the lives of countless individuals and families.
“Today, we honour the resilience and determination that defines our great nation. We also acknowledge the vital role health care professionals like yourselves play in ensuring the well-being of our communities.
“I thank everyone for your tireless efforts, even as I pray that this Independence Day may inspire all to strive for excellence, compassion, and unity”.
The RIVCHPP Executive Secretary used the occasion to inform Rivers people that the agency “will continue a more robust and aggressive sensitisation campaign and enrolment of persons into different health insurance packages of the agency to enable more and more Rivers residents to benefit from the laudable health largesse of the current government in the state”.

Continue Reading

Rivers

Egbetokun Inaugurates 12-Room POWA Office In Rivers

Published

on

The wife of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the National President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Mrs. Elizabeth Egbetokun, has commissioned a 12-room Office Complex built by the Rivers State Chapter of the Association located at Old GRA in Port-Harcourt.
Speaking while commissioning the office complex, Mrs. Egbetokun said she was “aware of the various challenges and responsibilities Police Officers faced daily in their line of duty.
“This is why commissioning the complex marks a significant milestone in POWA’s journey”.
She stated that one of POWA’s cardinal missions is to advocate for Police families and ensure they receive support for their sacrifices, adding that the complex would foster unity and generate revenue for the organisation.
The number one POWA in the country opined that the various gift items given to some widows of late police officers, such as gas cookers, sewing machines, hair dressing equipment, and refrigerators was to enable them start up businesses after training them on relevant skills.
She said the ultimate objective was to make them self-reliant.
In addition to the gift items, assorted food items were given to some of the members to start various mini businesses.
According to her, under her leadership, POWA will continue to give priority to the welfare of its members and the wives of fallen Police Officers”.
Earlier in her goodwill message, the wife of Rivers State Governor, represented by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Roselyn Uranta, reitratated the State Government’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of women under the administration of His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and assured of the Government’s continued support to the association.
The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, in his brief remarks, also thanked the wife of the IGP for finding time out of her tight schedule to be in the State for the commissioning of the project.
The CP further stated that her visit was an indication of the immense support that the Police receive from their wives in enhancing the safety and security of Rivers State. He thanked the State Governor for his support.
In her welcome address, the Chairperson of POWA in Rivers State, Mrs. Olufunmilola Disu, thanked the Almighty God for making the day a reality, stating that despite the daunting economic challenges, POWA remained focused and committed to improving the welfare of her members.
The complex, she said, “symbolises POWA’s collective unity, resilience, and support for our Police officers and their families”.
Dignitaries in attendance at the event were the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 16, Yenagoa, AIG Paul Alifa Omata; Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of Operations, Rivers State, DCP Olugbenga Adepoju; Assistant Commissioners of Police, other Senior Police Officers, Traditional Rulers, Clergymen, and members of the State PCRC.
The event’s high point was the official cutting of the tape to formally commission the complex and the presentation of the Award to the State Chairperson of POWA from the National Headquarters of POWA.

Akujobi Amadi

Continue Reading

Trending