By Adesina Wahab

The Senate President of the National Association of University Students, NAUS, Comrade Oguntade Omodolamu, has urged the federal government to invest massively in education, science and technology so that the country will have a swift breakthrough from the economic challenges confronting it.

In a statement made available to Vanguard on Tuesday, he opined that prioritizing investment in those areas would lead to a better country and an assured future for the citizens.

He added that the call was also for the nation to thrive and not lag behind other nations.

“As university students, we strongly advocate for the government to heed this call and allocate significant resources to these critical sectors.

‘Nigeria’s education sector has been historically underfunded, particularly at the tertiary level. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Nigeria allocates approximately 6% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to education, which is significantly below the recommended 15% to 20% for developing nations. This is necessary so that the developing countries will be able to compete effectively globally.

“This chronic underfunding has led to deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate staffing, insufficient resources, resulting in a decline in educational standards and outcomes. Our call for increased investment in education, science and technology is essential and necessary, as it seeks to address these systemic issues and pave the way for a more equitable educational landscape. This is not only a mere call for more funding; it’s a plea for the future of our nation.

“Additionally, science and technology are driving forces in today’s global economy. Countries that have invested heavily in research and development have seen tremendous economic growth and advancement. By investing heavily in science and technology, the government can foster innovations, create new industries, and attract investments from both local and foreign investors. Furthermore, advancement in science and technology can lead to improvement in various sectors such as health care, agriculture, infrastructure, ultimately boosting the overall economy.

“Conclusively, our call for the federal government to invest massively in education, science and technology is a crucial step towards overcoming economic challenges and achieving rapid breakthroughs. By prioritising these areas, the government will lay the foundation for a prosperous and sustainable future for the nation. It’s highly imperative that government heeds this call so as to secure a brighter tomorrow for generations to come.”