Enugu’s education policy to equip youths for global competitiveness

…as Coal City University honours Ikeje Asogwa, Mrs Nwobodo, others at maiden convocation*

Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has said that the state is presently taking some radical educational policies tailored at equipping the youths with the right skills which would position them for global competition where their services could be outsourced all over the world without necessarily leaving the country.

The governor disclosed this, weekend, at the Coal City University’s maiden convocation ceremony held in Enugu where the institution honoured Chief Ikeje Asogwa, a business mogul and philanthropist, Prof. Malachy Ugwueze, pioneer Vice Chancellor of the university, and other eminent Nigerians for their exemplary leadership and contributions to the growth of the institution, and also conferred honourary doctoral degree awards on Ebonyi State governor, Hon. Francis Nwifuru, former First Lady of Old Anambra State, Lady Patricia Nwobodo, founder and chief executive officer of Tenece Professional Services, Engr. Kingsley Eze, among other awardees, for setting the pace in their respective areas of endeavour.

Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, maintained that the administration was strategic and deliberate in overhauling the state’s education curricula from basic education to higher institution for a modern, innovative and experiential learning method that would equip graduates with skills to solve present challenges in the global sphere.

He further stated that the administration was poised to provide a solution-based system of education across levels of institution that would not only improve human capital development, eradicate poverty and move the economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion but would also provide a healthy, and well-equipped workforce for the emerging economy.

“This administration has set for itself an aggressive target in developing Enugu State. As you already know, our vision is to make Enugu State one of the top three states in Nigeria in terms of gross domestic product and achieve a zero poverty headcount index. We also intend to grow our GDP from the current $4.4 billion to $30 billion before 2031. These targets cannot be met solely through focus on brick and mortar development, but there is a huge requirement for human energy, creativity and knowledge if we are to meet these goals.

“Consequently, we’re taking a very radical position regarding education and human capital development in our development plans, starting from basic schools all the way through the tertiary education system to better the lives of our young people. The position that we are taking and the initiatives will be radical. One of it is that we are going to build 260 smart schools spread around the 260 wards. On this smart schools will include every technological tool and learning environment that is needed to give our students the fair opportunity to be competitive in the global market. We are also working very closely to review our curriculum to make it more experiential and improve on the pedagogical approach of our teachers and the teacher capacities in our schools,” he added.

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While congratulating the institution for the milestone, the governor said his government would continue to partner with both public and private institutions such as the Coal City University as it relates to innovation, teaching and learning to raise the bar of human capital.

“We want to also partner with tertiary institutions such as Coal City University that continue to lead in the font of innovation as it relates to teaching and learning. In summary, we have resolved that education will make a priority for governments going forward, and our focus is to ensure that the sector receives up to 30% of our capital budget going forward. Our plans do not stop here. We appreciate that beyond education, human capital and ingenuity are best unleashed when in constant use. To reinforce our effort to attract the private sector, we are also partnering with various agencies and companies to boost the capacity of our youths in Enugu State to ensure that we maintain a vibrant youth workforce within the state which will in itself act as a draw to graduate investment.

“We are not unaware of the global war for talents which has impacted our state and indeed Nigeria in the shape of the Japa syndrome. However, we are repositioning and leveraging our state by collaboration with various partners to set up outsource facilities here in the state where businesses and individuals can comfortably service foreign clients and earn forex without leaving the environment where they are comfortable or their family members,” he noted.