‘Education and youth empowerment should drive vision 20:2020 attainment’

Concerned educationists and industry experts have expressed displeasure at the slow pace at which policy decisions of government in Nigeria and by extension its policy makers are implemented.

They believe that one distinct avenue to measure responsiveness or otherwise of any government in the world today is in its quick implementation of key policy agreement or decisions that will boost the advancement of any sector such policy is formulated for.

While many have made a case for substantial funding without the desired result, there are some that consider the idea of proper implementation of educational policies and framework as a viable option for boosting development.

Such consideration in their summation will engineer a transformation in the way things are usually done in this country. It was established that the non-implementation of policies have contributed in no small way to the decay in the education system today.

Adedayo Akinluyi, an education expert, said the sooner those in authority begin to implement all the documented policies, as it concerns education, the sooner the nation will move closer to becoming an emerging economic model that will deliver sound education policies and management to schools to make them relevant in the comity of nation in this 21st Century.

Youth empower as a tool for development is an attitudinal, structural and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and the lives of other people, youths and adults inclusive, Akinluyi said.

To him, youth empowerment is often addressed as a gateway to inter-generational equity, civic engagement and democracy building. The need to guide and nurture our youth who are the future of our great country Nigeria cannot be over-emphasised, he said further.

As unemployment continues to grow in our society, poverty level and youth restiveness will continue to rise, the university don further said, noting that both the rich and the poor, old and young will continue to bear the brunt of our actions and inactions.

According to him, “one way of redressing the problems is through reorienting our youths, providing qualitative education and training in core values. As long as Nigeria is growing apace in terms of jobs for the educated minority through investment in expanding and transforming government agencies, services and the private sector, the growing numbers of graduates could be absorbed.”

The current situation highlights the treatment the Nigerian education sector constantly receives in terms of budgetary allocation, Ayinde Adeboye, a concerned educationist, said, stating that it has often times resulted in poor policy implementation.

He however expressed sadness at the continued neglect of education by government agencies saddled with the responsibility of monitoring standards across all sub-sectors of education.

He then urged them to take action to maintain and enhance standards; a situation he asserted had led to tertiary institutions in the country churning out on a yearly basis poorly trained graduates, who cannot compete favourably in the global market.

KELECHI EWUZIE