The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has advocated a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s education system from certificate-based learning to capability-driven education to enable youths with entrepreneurial, innovative and digital skills to spring up.

This was contained in a statement issued by Sani Lawal Maqarphy media aide to the Vice president,  saying that Governor Lawal made the call in a keynote address delivered on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary, Zamfara State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Hajiya Maryam Yahaya Shantali, at the First International Hybrid Conference organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences Education, Federal University of Education.

The sub-theme, “From Certificates to Capability: Entrepreneurship Education, Innovation and Skills Development for Youth Employment in the Digital Age – The Zamfara Experience,” the Governor noted that Nigeria’s education system have to move beyond the mere award of certificates to producing graduates equipped with practical skills, entrepreneurial competence and digital literacy.

According to her,  the nation’s education system had for many years focused on examinations and certification rather than the development of competencies required for productivity and self-reliance, pointing out that entrepreneurship education should be inclusive in the teaching and learning as a practical approach to solving real-life problems.

She noted that digital transformation should be a catalyst for transforming educational delivery and expanding opportunities for innovation, rather than replacing sound educational policies and effective teaching methods.

 “Zamfara State Government, has declared a State of Emergency on e education which has accelerated investments in school infrastructure, teacher recruitment, technical and vocational education, digital literacy and improved governance across the education sector”, the Governor added.

He further stated that the  Zamfara State had introduced eighteen technical and vocational subjects in secondary schools, recruited qualified teachers through a merit-based process and established the Zamfara Institute of Information Technology to prepare young people for emerging opportunities in the digital economy.

The Governor also highlighted the government’s investments in school feeding, construction of new schools, teacher capacity development and strategic partnerships with technology organisations aimed at improving digital skills and enhancing youth employability.

He identified overdependence on certificates, curricula disconnected from labour market needs, poor perception of technical and vocational education and weak data-driven administration as major challenges confronting the nation’s education system.

According to Zamfara Governor, addressing these challenges requires stronger collaboration among governments, educational institutions, industry and development partners to build an education system that promotes innovation, enterprise and sustainable development.

The Governor further urged universities and researchers to support educational reforms through evidence-based research, curriculum development, teacher education and the design of assessment systems that prioritise capability over memorisation.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the Zamfara State Government to building an education system that empowers learners with practical knowledge and skills capable of driving economic growth and national development.

The three-day international conference brought together scholars, researchers, policymakers and development partners from within and outside Nigeria to deliberate on strategies for reimagining knowledge systems for digital transformation and sustainable development in the 21st century.