Stakeholders in the education and social development sectors have called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s educational curriculum and improved training for caregivers and administrators of orphanages.
The call was made in Abuja during a capacity-building workshop organised by Master Coach Hub.
Speaking at the event, the Convener and Training Consultant of the organisation, Ustaz Yunus Salahudeen, said many academic programmes in secondary schools and universities no longer reflect present-day realities and global demands.
According to him, some courses and training models have become outdated and may no longer adequately prepare students and workers in social institutions for the future.
He stressed the need for reforms that would align education with current social, economic and technological realities.
“If we want to compete globally, innovate locally and empower the next generation to lead Nigeria, then it is urgent to reform the curriculum,” he said.
Salahudeen also urged caregivers, social workers and managers of orphanages to adopt more sustainable operational models, rather than relying heavily on donations and charity.
He said organisations running orphanages and social intervention programmes should strengthen their capacity in areas such as partnerships, grant applications, donor engagement and compliance procedures.
According to him, this would help them attract funding opportunities and technical support capable of improving their operations and long-term impact.
He, however, acknowledged the efforts of many faith-based organisations and non-governmental organisations operating orphanages and social support initiatives despite limited resources.
Also speaking at the workshop, the Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), Dr Chudi Ezingwe, outlined some initiatives introduced by the agency to support entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Ezingwe said the agency recently launched the AEA Women in Business Forum to provide mentorship, networking opportunities, market access and investment support for women entrepreneurs.
He added that the agency had established an export desk office to guide businesses seeking export opportunities and also introduced a one-stop business support centre aimed at simplifying business registration processes.
The AEA boss further disclosed that the agency was collaborating with the Bank of Industry to improve funding opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
According to him, the partnership is expected to help businesses expand operations, create jobs and contribute to economic growth.
In her goodwill message, Dr Neemat Daud-Abdulrahim, commended the organisers of the workshop and called for stronger collaboration among private organisations, non-governmental organisations and international development partners.
She specifically mentioned organisations such as the UK Department for International Development (DFID), UNICEF and JICA as partners that could support social development and capacity-building initiatives in the country.
