Fund education to avert total collapse – Don tells Tinubu, others

A professor of Industrial Education and Training, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, Kehinde Oluwaseun Kester, has raised an alarm that the education sector in Nigeria is in a serious crisis.

Kester who spoke on Monday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, advised the three tiers of government and other stakeholders to intervene by providing more funding to save the sector from total collapse.

He spoke during the opening of the 2023 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, attended by Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade; Minister for Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammad Idris who was represented by the Director of Public Relations and Protocol in the ministry, Mrs. Omolara Esan, and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farombi

Kester while delivering his paper entitled “Nigerian Economy: Re-imagining Education System for the Fifth Industrial Revolution”, at the event held at the NUJ Press Centre, Ibadan, noted that the education sector is currently facing serious challenges such as inadequate funding and poor infrastructure.

The don who said the fifth industrial revolution intends to bridge the gap between the man and machine, remarked that Nigeria needs to digitalise its education sector so as to re-imagine its education sector.

Kester who maintained that the world is moving towards the fifth industrial revolution, noted that people should not worry about job loss when the time comes.

“We need to take our education sector more serious. Nigeria’s education is more or less knowledge transmission, it does not take care of the quality. I wish to say that Nigeria education is very weak, poorly funded.

“Nigeria’s education is highly underfunded and there is an urgent need for intervention. It is garbage in garbage out. From primary to secondary and to tertiary. So, we are having issues. It is becoming a serious issue. To improve the education sector in the country, more money, more funded is required.

“So, how do we re-imaging the education system. We need to digitalise the system, we need more adaptation learning environment, we need skills that are not taught in classrooms. We need to increase access to education.

“Sir, ma, we are moving into the fifth industrial revolution. It is called industrial 5.0. Since we have industrial revolution 5.0, we should have education 5.0.

“Our jobs will still be there, they are bringing industrial revolution 5.0 to strike the balance between man and machine. We want to use industrial revolution 5.0 to bridge the gap between the top and bottom”.

The state governor, Seyi Makinde, who was represented by Prince Oyelade, in his remarks,  noted that the Press Week is an avenue for journalists to re-dedicate themselves to their professional calling, saying, “The Press Weekeek is not only for merry making alone but for deep soul searching. Journalism is the best profession.”

Idris on his part, urged journalists to continue to promote the ideas of democracy through their reportage.

“I will urge us on the need to continue to report the activities of President Bola Tinubu. Let us continue to promote the ideas of democracy. The success of our democracy lies in your dedication to service. I am confident that we will overcome our challenges”, he said.