Stakeholders hinge education growth to strategic youth empowerment

Ahead of May 29 democracy day and the handing over of power to Muhammadu Buhari by the outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan, industry watchers and educationists have called on the new administration to up the tempo in the area of education policy implementation in order to move the sector forward.

Experts believe that one distinct avenue to measure the 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.

Little wonder, nations that want to be reckoned with in terms of technological advancement and academic success strive to position education as a cardinal point of interest in its march towards development.

Ajayi Adeola educationist in Lagos noted that one key area the Buhari administration need to lay more emphasis on in order to move the country forward is through youth empowerment.

Adeola explained that 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.

He observed that youth empowerment is often addressed as a gateway to intergenerational 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 further pointed out that empowering of youths is an investment that pays off anytime, anywhere adding that by investing in youths, government corporations, communities, NGOs and individuals can help prepare the youths for the challenges ahead.

According to him, “If they are truly the leaders of tomorrow, then we must continue to invest our time, resources and knowledge in them.”

He asserted that as unemployment continues to grow in our society, poverty level and youth restiveness will continue to rise noting that both the rich and the poor, old and young will continue to bear the brunt of our actions and inactions.

It is in the face of this steady decline in the overall standard of education across all tiers in the nation therefore that education experts have continued to clamour for initiatives that would promote massive development of the sector that is daily experiencing backwardness.

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.

In his own assessment of the current situation Tunde Oduwole, an educationist, highlighted the treatment the Nigerian education sector constantly receives in terms of budgetary allocation; stating that it has often times resulted in poor policy implementation.

Oduwole 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 effective action to maintain and enhance standards; a situation which he asserted has 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