0
LAGOS – The Rector of the Ed-John Institute of Management and Technology, Rev. Emmanuel Kayode, and a guest lecturer, Professor Isaac Onigbinde, have called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s education and economic systems, stressing that excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship and skills development are critical to national transformation.
They made the call at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Ed-John Institute of Management and Technology, held in Ikorodu, Lagos, where graduates were urged to position themselves as problem solvers, innovators and job creators capable of bridging Nigeria’s widening skills gap.
In his convocation address titled, “Excellence, Innovation, and Enterprise: The Triad for National Transformation,” Kayode said Nigeria could not achieve sustainable development on a “foundation of mediocrity.”
According to him, excellence in polytechnic education goes beyond academic grades and includes technical competence, practical training, integrity and resilience.
“The Nigerian economy cannot develop on a foundation of mediocrity. Every ledger you balance, every software code you deploy, every business you manage, and every media campaign you design must meet standards that command respect in domestic and international markets,” he said.
He urged the graduating students not to wait for white-collar jobs, but to become employers of labour capable of supporting local industries and value chains.
“Do not wait for employment to come to you; create value for others, and employment will follow,” he said.
Professor Onigbinde, Director, Research, Innovation and Development, McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State, while delivering the convocation lecture titled, “Nigeria’s Skill Gap is Real, Structural and Solvable: The Future-Proof Economy Model,” described the country’s skills deficit as a major threat to economic growth and global competitiveness.
He said recent statistics indicate that about 40 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce lacks the skills required by employers, while youth unemployment remains around 33 per cent despite the country’s large youth population.
