By Dayo Adesulu

EDUCATION stakeholders, at  the 2nd Annual Blossom Career and Entrepreneurship Summit convened by ‘Best of the World Enterprises Limited (publishers of Blossom Magazine), spoke with one voice on how obsolete curricula is the cause of the rot in the education system. Led by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, as Chief Host and Bishop of Lagos West Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. James Olusola Odedeji, as Co-Host, stakeholders converged to address the problems of the education sector and canvass the need for curriculum reform in the face of rising youth unemployment in the country.

Welcoming guests to the event, Chief Executive, Best of the World, Mrs. Joy Chinwokwu, said the summit aims to chart a focused direction towards tackling the job crises in Nigeria by advocating curriculum review in secondary and tertiary institutions, inspire students and their guardians to focus on careers and skills with prospects for employment, among others.”

In his keynote address titled Curriculum Misfits, Reform Perspectives and Strategic Imperatives, founding VC, National Open University of Nigeria and immediate past Secretary-General and Chief Executive, Association of African Universities, Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, emphasised that one of the current weaknesses of our educational system is the obsolete curricula used in training students at the various levels of education, especially the tertiary level.

He said: “Our review of the curricula used at our institutions of higher learning has not kept pace with global development, research outcomes and current societal needs. “It appears we still use analogue thinking to solve current issues which have gone digital, while tertiary institutions are still producing graduates for the labour market without constant review of what the market requires.”

The curriculum review, he noted, must aim for fit-for-purpose personnel to avoid wastage in resources and industry having to retrain graduates they hire from the tertiary institutions.

In agreement is Dr. Chuma Ezedinma, Officer in Charge (Regional Office), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO,  who underscored the need to revamp the whole curriculum and begin to produce graduates that employers need. Ezedinma who spoke through  Mr. Francis Ukoh, UNIDO ICT expert said; “nations are built by hands, technical competence, skills and not speeches.”

He stressed the need for parity between HND and BSC qualifications in terms of job placement to send a clear message that competence and skills are great importance than undue emphasis on paper qualification.

On his part,  Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by the Special Assistant on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, lauded the organisers  of the summit, as he noted that the initiative is in line with Lagos State’s vision of having students focus on acquiring quality education that will enable them conveniently fit into the job market after graduation.

The Bishop of Lagos West, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. James Odedeji, in his remark delivered by the Dean of Archbishop Vining Memorial church Cathedral, the Ven. Abel Ajibodu, said the church, which is in the vanguard of the quest for the return of missionary schools to its original owners, is set to tackle the unwholesome crave for certificate acquisition without commensurate acquisition of knowledge.

He called for concentrated curriculum efforts on skills acquisition as a way of creating jobs and encouraging youths to explore their potentials in all spheres.