Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, has referred to as on Nigerian universities to urgently overhaul their educational system by inserting higher emphasis on sensible expertise, innovation and entrepreneurship slightly than the mere acquisition of certificates.
Okonkwo mentioned the nation’s increased training establishments should produce graduates geared up with competencies that tackle 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 training ought to not be measured by the variety of certificates awarded however by graduates’ potential to clear up issues, create worth and contribute meaningfully to financial development.
He advocated a transition from content-based instructing to competency-driven studying that develops important pondering, creativity, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, moral management and sensible problem-solving skills.
Okonkwo harassed that authorities and universities should make investments extra in technical and vocational training, fashionable laboratories, engineering workshops, analysis services 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 mentioned such partnerships would supply college students with sensible office expertise earlier than commencement, improve their employability and stimulate indigenous innovation and expertise growth.
Highlighting United Nigeria Airlines’ collaboration with ABUAD, Okonkwo mentioned college students of the college’s Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering programme at present 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 observe.
He challenged extra non-public sector organisations to set up related partnerships via internships, apprenticeships, analysis collaborations and expertise switch initiatives.
Okonkwo additional referred to as on universities to commercialise analysis outputs, stressing that increased establishments ought to transfer past data era to producing sensible options able to addressing Nigeria’s developmental challenges.
Responding, Founder of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), mentioned the lecture bolstered his long-held concern over the disconnect between college training and the sensible expertise graduates require after leaving faculty.
Babalola urged the Federal Government to assessment college curricula to guarantee graduates purchase skilled competencies able to making them job creators slightly 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 supply of satisfactory infrastructure earlier than granting operational licences.
The authorized icon disclosed that he had constituted a panel comprising eight vice-chancellors to suggest extra 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 analyzing how training can higher develop the talents, character and progressive capability required for Nigeria’s sustainable growth.
She recommended Okonkwo and United Nigeria Airlines for supporting sensible training via their partnership with the college and referred to as for sustained collaboration between academia and business to produce graduates able to assembly the calls for of the fashionable economic system.
