A Nigerian Harvard Professor, Jacob Olupona says Nigeria must
rethink and reinvest in the nation's education system if it must be
great again. The Harvard University teacher hinted while delivering the
31st convocation lecture of the University of Ilorin on the theme “Educational Reform and Nation Building in Nigeria”.
The Prof. submitted that Nigeria's greatness will come through a
rigorous transformation and reformation of the educational system. He
noted: “It is through a strong educational system that we can
reform our national image ,ethos and unity. If we want good
governance,we must look to education. If we want to decrease poverty and
increase literacy ,we must look to education .If we want a
skilled,discipline , and hard working labour force ,we must look to
education. If we truly want change in our country,we must begin to
rethink and reinvest in our education system,”
While charging our higher institutions of learning to uphold a
higher standard of learning, he also emphasized the need for parents to
cultivate the attitudes of investing in public education as much as they
do in private education. He charged old students to help in the growth
of their schools by investing in their Alma mater to help in the
transformation. Olupona blamed the Boko Haram insurgency on lack of
proper education.
In his address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin,
Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali commended the graduands for making it thus
far and encouraged them to acquire more skills to add to their
certificates.
Concluding, the Chancellor of the University of Katsina, Alhaji
AbdulMumini Usman praised the government's effort and commitment in
education sector and thanked the Harvard professor for honouring the
occasion.