Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has urged for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s education system to better align graduates with the demands of the industrial sector. Zulum made this call in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri, following a courtesy visit by Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director and CEO of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), at the Government House.
Zulum expressed concern over the growing number of graduates lacking essential skills required to drive innovation and technological advancement. He stressed the need for urgent reforms to equip graduates with practical abilities that will foster self-reliance and reduce dependence on a limited job market.
“We have two major problems in our educational system: the mismatch between educational institutions and industries, which fail to communicate effectively, and the disconnect between the labour market and graduates, many of whom are unprepared to work in the industries,” Zulum stated.
The governor called on NELFUND to play a crucial role in addressing these issues by supporting entrepreneurship, technical education, and vocational training. “Beyond offering loans, I urge you to explore ways to support entrepreneurship education and promote technical and vocational training to reduce the reluctance toward these critical areas of study,” he added.
Zulum also commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing NELFUND, recognizing its potential to significantly reduce illiteracy, particularly in the North East. He pledged to involve local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders in raising awareness about the fund, emphasizing its importance for underprivileged students pursuing higher education.
“I have held discussions with heads of tertiary institutions since you assumed office, and reports indicate that a significant number of students who applied for NELFUND loans received them with ease,” Zulum noted.
Earlier, Sawyerr outlined NELFUND’s mission, highlighting its commitment to addressing the financial challenges that often force students to drop out of school. He explained that the fund provides interest-free loans, with repayment set at 10 percent of a recipient’s income once they secure employment.
(NAN)
