Former Governor of Osun State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Adebisi Akande, called for a comprehensive transformation in Nigeria’s educational system, urging universities to adapt to modern practices to avoid being left behind in the global competitive landscape.
Akande, who emphasized the importance of producing graduates with practical skills, warned that universities should not churn out individuals who cannot contribute meaningfully to the economy.
This, he said, was crucial for the nation’s future in an increasingly competitive world.
Speaking at his Ila-Orangun residence in Osun State while hosting the Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof. Babatola Ayodele, and other principal officers, Akande stated, “If you want global competition, you can’t wait.
Universities should avoid producing graduates that cannot add value to the economy.
The award of degrees without the relevant skills required for national growth should be discouraged in the Nigerian educational curriculum.
Going to school is not work, but the beginning of learning how to work.”
The former governor, an alumnus of EKSU, commended the institution’s leadership for its achievements, particularly its recent ranking as the best state university in Nigeria by “Times Higher Education”.
He attributed the success to “knowledgeable leadership” within the university.
In his remarks, EKSU Vice Chancellor Prof. Ayodele thanked Akande for his insightful guidance, acknowledging the valuable role of the elder statesman’s experience and fatherly advice in the university’s progress.
He concluded with expressing pride in EKSU’s emphasis on practical, skill-based education, saying, “No student graduates from the university without acquiring relevant skills in one vocation or the other, ensuring that they are prepared for profitable engagements rather than merely seeking white-collar jobs.”
