Soludo: Nigeria’s education sector is in dire need of revitalisation

Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, says Nigeria’s education is in dire need of revitalisation.

Soludo spoke on Friday in Awka, the capital of Anambra, during a visit by members of the new governing council of the Federal Polytechnic Oko.

The governor said most higher institutions in the country are turning into glorified secondary schools.

“I look at the institution with mixed feelings of hope and opportunities but also of despair,” Soludo said.

“We know where the dream was, but whether we are heading to the position, I don’t know.

“This is not peculiar to Federal Polytechnic, Oko. Most of our institutions are turning into glorified secondary schools.

“We need to start asking the pivotal question of what our various individual institutions are known for. What comes to mind when our institutions are mentioned?

“Sadly, many of our institutions have gone down. We need to go back to the fundamental ideas of our forefathers.”

Soludo said the council should ensure that effort is put into rebuilding the institution to cater to a universal purpose.

“In our own polytechnic here in Mgbakwu, I have a team reviewing their status. They will soon submit their report on whether the institution is fit for purpose,” he said.

“It is a general problem of our education, particularly tertiary education. I call them the “villagisation” of our institutions, but I see Nigeria in terms of the composition of the board.

“There is huge work to be done to be able to rescue our education sector.

“I’ve seen university when it was universal, not minding where one came from but the value being added.

“Here in Anambra, we recruited 8,115 teachers from 18 states of the country because the interest of the Anambra child is to be taught by the best teacher. We are already practicing what we preach.

“Re-invent Federal Polytechnic, Oko. It has been compared to a glorified high school. I’ve seen how it works elsewhere, and it pains me to see what is going on here.

“We have a job to rebuild because education remains the ladder of opportunities. In terms of strategic partnership with you, there is a whole lot we can do to assist you, though yours is a federal institution in Anambra State. Let’s do it together.”