Yabatech Convocation Ceremony: Chief of Staff Calls for Innovative Education

Nigeria’s Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila has called on all stakeholders in the educational sector to motivate young people to receive an education capable of empowering them with innovative skills to boost their confidence to participate in the global economy.

Femi Gbajabiamila stated this at the Yaba Colledge of Technology, Yabatech’s convocation ceremony where he said the country must ensure that its higher education institutions become citadels that produce graduates who have the desire and drive to change the world for the better.

He said quality education in the 21st knowledge economy should empower the individual to operate effectively in multiple fields, ask hard questions and challenge the status quo.

Disruption and reinvention

“Essentially, the purpose of 21st-century education is not merely skills acquisition and specialisation but disruption and reinvention. How do we achieve this? We do this by reviewing our curricula and teaching methods to situate our practices in the context of global labour needs. We require a programme of aggressive and sustained investment in education, “he said.

Speaking on the topic: Empowering Nigerian Youths in the Present Day Economy,  Gbajabiamila said the provision of infrastructure for higher institutions of learning should not be restricted to only the physical infrastructure of classrooms and lecture halls but in technology hardware and software to facilitate information exchange and innovation.

“Today, many skills that guaranteed employment and a healthy income for previous generations have been made redundant by technological advances. This generation will not only be competing with one another for opportunities, but they will also be competing in a global marketplace, against students from all over the world, and against technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, blockchain and financial technology tools that are increasingly replacing the human function in the workplace. We must prepare them with these realities in mind, “Gbajabiamila explained.

Changing realities

He said there was a need to develop a new understanding of the changing nature of work and the future of employment, the limits of the present knowledge, and a need to adapt to the changing realities.

He analysed a need for higher institutions to collaborate with the organised private sector to research, review and bridge the gaps in knowledge.

“We need to do this as a necessary precursor to focusing national attention on these issues so that we can jointly rise to the demands of the moment. This is an objective that we cannot, for the sake of our future, leave to the government alone to pursue, “he stated.

Speaking at the Convocation Ceremony, the Rector of the school, Mr Ibrahim Abdul said the youths need to be equipped with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to navigate the dynamic economic landscapes and emerge as successful contributors to the society.

“This topic cannot be better handled by anyone other than the chief engineer in charge of the engine room that drives and coordinates all national activities and development. The man who has been actively and practically involved in youth empowerment for several years and perfectly understands the workings and directions of the Renewed Hope Agenda of our dear president and commander-in-chief of armed forces, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, FYCT,” Dr Abdul stated

Contribute meaningfully

He said the lecture would also ignite passion in the youths to pursue their dreams, overcome obstacles and contribute meaningfully to the development of the nation.

The Rector said to achieve the noble goals, his administration has put in place several youth empowerment initiatives like the Quadruple Helix Collaboration Scheme for Youth Empowerment, Centre for Technology Marketing and Product Development, YCT Industry Alliance Group (YIAG) Program, Students Work and Study Scheme.

“The Quadruple Helix Collaboration Scheme provides a model for innovation and development that involves the active participation of Academia, Industry, Government and Civil Society. A test run was successfully carried out this year at the Computer Village in collaboration with MTN Nigeria, Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Canada, National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), and Computer and Telecommunication Engineers Association of Nigeria (COMTEAN),” he expressed.

He added that large-scale implementation of the scheme would soon commence with the hope of from TETFUND and other partners.

Dominica Nwabufo