Zulum seeks education reform to align graduates with industry needs

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has called for a thorough revamp of Nigeria’s education system to bridge the gap between academic institutions and the demands of the industrial sector.

The governor made the call in a statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri by his spokesman, Dauda Iliya, following a courtesy visit by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, at the Government House.

Zulum expressed deep concern over the rising number of graduates lacking the critical skills needed to drive innovation and technological progress.

He emphasised the urgent need for reforms to empower graduates with practical abilities that promote self-reliance and reduce dependency on limited job opportunities.

“We have two major problems in our educational system: the mismatch between educational institutions and industries, as they do not communicate effectively, and the mismatch between the labour market and graduates, many of whom are unprepared to work in the industries,” Zulum said.

The governor urged NELFUND to play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges by supporting entrepreneurship, technical education, and vocational training.

“Beyond offering loans, I urge you to explore ways to support entrepreneurship education and promote technical and vocational training to reduce the reluctance toward these critical areas of study,” he added.

Commending President Bola Tinubu for establishing NELFUND, Zulum highlighted its potential to significantly reduce illiteracy, particularly in the North East.

He also pledged to involve local government chairmen, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders in raising awareness about the fund, emphasising its value for underprivileged students pursuing higher education.

“I have held discussions with heads of tertiary institutions since you assumed office, and reports indicate that a significant number of students who applied for NELFUND loans received them with ease,” Zulum said.

Earlier, Sawyerr outlined the mission of NELFUND, stressing its commitment to tackling the financial difficulties forcing many students to drop out of school.

He noted that the fund offers interest-free loans, with repayment set at 10 per cent of the recipient’s income once they secure employment.

(NAN)