Our Universities Should Do More To Produce Graduates That Will Improve Nigeria’s Economy – GEJ

Ex Nigeria President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has come out to say that Nigerian universities should work on producing the type of workforce that will improve Nigeria’s economy.

He recently revealed this in his speech at a special convocation ceremony of the Gregory University Uturu, Abia State where an honorary doctorate degree in public administration was conferred on him.

According to him, he made education one of the cardinal points of his government, and that was in line with his philosophy of development which is rooted in education.

He added that some of the initiatives of his administration geared towards revamping the nation’s education included establishing twelve new conventional universities and three specialized, as well as implementing the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovations and Development (PRESSID) established.

His words, “For a country like ours which is in dire need of a technological base for its growth, especially in this age of fast-paced knowledge economy, we were convinced that a programme like PRESSID was the way to go.”

“We must strive to make our universities, solution camps and ideation grounds. Grounds for the formation of creative minds. Places that produce people pondering on solving the next mankind’s greatest challenges.”

“Our universities must function as citadels for purpose-driven human development and hubs for technological innovation.”

“For us to make sustainable progress, they must serve as institutions for research, discovery and development of transformative solutions that will reduce hunger, poverty and unemployment.”

“Nations that stand out today as very peaceful, prosperous and stable are those with well-established educational systems.”

“For this reason, every progress-minded society must make conscious and pragmatic efforts to build a proper education system that develops the capacities of its people because education serves as not just the gateway to prosperity but a peacebuilding mechanism.”