Governor Dapo Abiodun
The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has spotted a great lacuna in the educational system of the country which continues to make it a misfit and incapable of comparing with its ilks globally.
Prince Abiodun has therefore noted that for Nigeria to make any meaningful giant leap in the 21st century, there is need for the upgrading of academic curricula in the educational institutions in line with current global trends.
The governor who made this known when he delivered a lecture titled, “Quest for Excellence: The Nexus of Faith, Knowledge and Resilience at the Convocation Ceremony of Mountain Top University, KM 12, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway yesterday noted that education in the 21st century has continued to change and broaden in scope and sphere.
The Governor stated that as technology is advancing, it is critical to have a sufficiently educated and skilled workforce to be able to drive global competitiveness.
“I am sorry to say that currently there is a mismatch between industry demands and education curriculum. So, our education institutions need to update their curricula to align with the direction in which the world is going”, he said.
Abiodun described education as a life-long learning that transcends the four walls of classroom or academic prowess, but that which is complete, wholesome, beneficial and of great value to individuals and the society.
He posited that the world is currently being ravaged and significantly altered by events ranging from climate change, insecurity and COVID-19 pandemic, adding that it was time research institutions and scholars exercise their faith, conduct research and be resilient in finding solutions to the myriad of challenges facing humanity.
“Local solutions must be sought for local challenges, but for this to happen, we need to encourage and cultivate innovation among our youths. We still lag behind the rest of the world when it comes to introducing disruptive technology. Human development is about creating opportunities and building a person’s ability to innovate and be entrepreneurial”, the Governor noted.
Abiodun commended the private sector for partnering the State government in the provision of quality education, noting that his administration has carried out several reforms in the education sector, including declaration of state of emergency, investment in infrastructure, human capital and capacity building, as well as establishment of education fund to see to the development of the State’s tertiary institutions.
Abiodun applauded the university for improving on the nation’s human capital and enriching humanity with quality graduands, charging the youth to take part in the political process and become active players in determining the future of the country.
The Governor at the event, made a cash donation and automatic employment to the overall best graduating student of the institution, Miss Oluseyi Olubunmi, from the department of Economics, who had 4.96 in her Cumulative Gross Points.
In his remark, the Chancellor of the University, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, urged the graduands to be master of their habits, time conscious, guide their hearts and be prayerful.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Elijah Ayolabi, said the university despite the challenging times, had maintained steady academic calendar through the use of online platform and sustained its tradition of academic excellence.
