FIC Report (Borno State) – Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s educational system to address the disconnect between educational institutions and the needs of industries.
The governor make this statement during a courtesy visit by the managing Director and Chief Executive NELFUND, Mr Akintude Sawyer, at the government house Maiduguri.
Governor Zulum expressed concern that many graduates produced by higher institutions lack the necessary skills to drive innovation and technical advancement.
He urged NELFUND to critically assess the issue and implement solutions that enable graduates to become self employed rather than depend on limited job opportunities.
“We have two major problems in our educational system the mismatch between educational institutions and industries as they do not communicate effectively and the mismatch between the labour market and graduates, many of whom are unprepared to work in the industries”. Zulum started.
Zulum further encouraged NELFUND to support entrepreneurship, technical education and vocational training programs.
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.
The Governor commended president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing NELFUND emphasizing it’s potential to significantly reduce illiteracy particularly in the North East region.
He pledged to mobilize local government chairmen and traditional rulers to raise unawareness about the program, nothing its importance for under privileged students who wish to persue higher education.
“I have held discussion 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 remarked.
During the visit, managing Director and Chief Executive officer of Nigerian education loan fund NELFUND,Mr Akintude Sawyer, highlighted the funds mission to tackle the growing issue of students dropping out due to financial constraints.
He noted that the loan’s interest free, with repayment set at 10 percent of the recipients income upon securing employment.
Mr, Sawyer was accompanied by the Vice Chancellor of Borno State University professor, Babagana Gutti, and representative of the National Association of Nigerian students (NANS)
Signed
B.A. Abdulsalam
Principal information officer (PIO)
FIC. Maiduguri.
