He also called for increased public private partnership in the management of education to tackle the "four serious problems that still persist in thwarting" the nation's efforts with consequences for Nigeria's ability to meet the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs.
Obasanjo who delivered the 41st convocation lecture of the University of Nigeria, UNN, at Nsukka on the theme "Education and national development" said the country could not continue to wobble as she is currently doing.
Speaking on the challenges of the future for the nation, Obasanjo said: "This country cannot continue to wobble along like a stalked and wounded lion, walking to its death. We have immense resources— there were 37.2 billion barrels of proven oil reserves in Nigeria as of 2011 ranking the country as the largest producer of oil in Africa and the 11th largest in the world, yet, there is no respite in the search for sustainable development of the nation."
Obasanjo also alluded to the nation's growing population which is put at 170 million as at today, saying: "This will be an asset only if we start now to work seriously and assiduously on how this large population will be the quality, united and purposeful workforce associated with such countries as the US and South Korea."
He explained that the United Nations' projection that Nigeria will be the fourth largest nation in population by the turn of the next century places a big burden on the leaders and people of Nigeria who must work for corresponding growth in education sector by increasing access to, quality and purpose of education.
Obasanjo identified the four problems confronting the nation's education sector as inadequate access to education, poor quality, lack of clarity on purpose of education and relevance of current education to Nigeria's culture, orientation, core values and the future.
The former military and civilian president called for public private partnership to tackle the challenges of education in Nigeria.
He submitted that "PPP in Nigerian education today must go beyond mortar and bricks, and extend to shared services, entrepreneurial development and reform ideas."
Chief Obasanjo also recommended that Nigeria must "institutionalise systematic performance reviews and assessment of all key areas of our education system", noting that "the annual lamentations about poor performance in WAEC and NECO examinations will remain empty and futile until we have reward and punishment systems to encourage improvements among students, teachers, administrators, schools and communities."
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No b una spoil d country..
ReplyDeleteu take style loot our money also by deceive privatization. now u talk sey country no good.
OBJ is the one that spoiled this country. He has the highest record rate of increasing our fuel and causing chaosity. Clamouring for privatisation withiut a positive effect.
ReplyDeleteBaba OBJ does this all the time. Whenever he is out of power he speaks the language of the people, but while in position to do the right thing he becomes anti-people. Baba should just keep quiet, people like them will only confuse Nigeria the more. He has nothing more to offer.
ReplyDeletejust worth my saying:another idiot like IBB who should burn on the stake
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that by admission our past leaders have been accepting their incompetency while in the saddle. One just gave up contesting election, now this lamentation after they had abused each other, blaming each other.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, both of them left Aso Rock and handed over to those who are more incompetent than them. This is why Tinubu is far better than all past presidents put together, he sincerely put a novice who is more competent than him, Lagosians are happy for it.
If GEJ is not able to solve problem of power, security, education etc who planned his emergence. Obj had even publicly boosted that his strategy to put a south south in power worked.
Obj is a force to be reckoned with in PDP, why has he failed to assist Gej? After all his failure amounts to their joint failure. At least IBB advised Gej against removal of subsidy he was not only ignored but a paid advert was placed to insult him. What has baba iyabo done that his stubborn shoeless son has rejected?
It is a pity that someone like Obasanjo will tell the public how many barrels of oil that is being produced in Nigeria (highest african oil producing nation)without meaningful development but during his own tenure, he never had a minister, board or anything, he personally made him self petroleum minister, NNPC boss, chairman of the board. God's anger, wrath & judgement will soon fall on all of you that put this wonderful country in this very condition.
ReplyDeletePoliticians only know what is right when they are not in power! If anyone has the guts to probe OBJ's tenures very well he will get more than 10 death sentences!
ReplyDeleteOBJ is a man to honor, i like him as a Father who knows the right thing to do. kindly assist our President.
ReplyDeletePlease can our House of Senate and assemble reduce their take home by 50% with their allowance. Nigeria will know that they are fighting for masses.
ReplyDelete