Don urges Tinubu to begin education reforms with tertiary education system

An engineering expert has urged President Bola Tinubu and Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, to invest in the learning and practice of science, technology and engineering for Nigeria’s development.

Founder, Ndifon Agbiji Science, Technology and Engineering Foundation (A-STEF): The Geniuses of Mathematics Quiz Competition, Ndifon Agbiji, who spoke during the maiden edition of the quiz competition, said Nigeria could not continue importation of goods and services at the detriment of the economy, hence the urgent need to embrace science and engineering.

Agbiji, who is a Fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers (FNSE), said: “The time has come for government to partner with A-STEF to build capacity of citizens and invest in the learning and practice of science, technology and engineering to engender a secured future for Cross River State and Nigeria.

“We shall work with all of you and, indeed, the current government to refocus our economy and raise the trajectory of our desired destination. Our preferred destination of a production economy can only be possible with a solid foundation of science, technology and engineering.

“Future generations can only be secured if we invest adequately in the study and learning of science, technology and engineering. This is the only guarantee for food security, employment generation and improved income for sustainable livelihood for us today and the coming generations.”

Similarly, a don, Prof. Felix Okiemen, yesterday, tasked the Federal Government to rescue the tertiary education sector in the country, saying university teachers have been relegated in the scheme of things in the country by successive governments.

The outgoing Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies of University of Benin (UNIBEN) made the appeal during an interview with newsmen as part of activities to herald his retirement from the institution.

Okiemen, who expressed sadness over poor funding of universities, charged Tinubu to rejig the sector by giving priority attention to education, particularly teachers’ welfare in the country.

He said government must jettison the idea of free education in the country, noting that a price must be paid either by the government or parents/guardians to make Nigerian education commensurable with developed nations.

He lamented that poor funding of the education sector over the years by successive governments is an indication that the nation does not place value on education.

He said: “Most varsity lecturers are doing their jobs with their “blood and money.

“Nigeria is not a knowledge-driven society. We don’t like people with knowledge. Those that have knowledge are being messed up by leadership of this country.

“It appears that this country hates people that have knowledge. Once you’re knowledgeable, they bring you down. In Germany, teachers are paid the highest salary. Without teachers, we won’t be where we are. So, why not give them their due respect? Why are teachers relegated to the background? Why are they considered the poverty index of this country? “We are all beneficiaries of teachers’ input. They deserve our respect.”