SOME 1,800 new graduates received their certificates, National and Higher Diplomas last Thursday amid fanfare at the fifth convocation of the Lagos City Polytechnic (LCP), with the institutions governing council Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Odufuwa imploring both the government and private sector to provide startup capital as loans to fresh graduates to enable them implement the entrepreneurial education they has received. The well attended event featured presentation of prizes to outstanding graduates, who made the best grades in various disciplines. The polytechnics honourary fellowship awards were also conferred on the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, the Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, Dr. Adamu Mohammed Yabani, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Sir. Ademola Aladekomo. According to Odufuwa, the objectives of the entrepreneurial component in the tertiary institutions curricula would fail, if graduates did not have access to loans to set up their businesses. While he observed that the collaboration between government and the private sector could bring about the much-anticipated growth in the education sector, he also maintained that private sector involvement in education has so far brought about significant changes in the way education is run in the country. Advocating for more private sector participation in tertiary education, Odufuwa said that the benefits had opened doors for Nigerians to have choices and qualitative education, thus providing more gainful employment to Nigerians from all works of life. He pointed put that through private institutions, the goals of value re-orientation, poverty reduction, wealth creation for socio economic development could be attained. Odufuwa affirmed that the emergence of private institutions had also brought some level of confidence, peace on campus, healthy competition and stability in the system. However, Odufuwa advised parents to stop the habit of enrolling under-age children in schools, warning that this could jeopardise the normal developmental process of the child and their potential contributions to national development later in life. To the students, he counselled: It is up to you to see road blocks as stepping stones and problems as opportunities. You have to remain strong and see the sky not as your limit, but as your starting point. Guest lecturer at the convocation and Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji urged the government at various levels to adopt policies to check the unwholesome value system in the society and create a conducive environment to enable educational institutions engage in healthy competitions. He observed that lack of good education and unemployment in the country had contributed to many social ills, including prostitution, breakdown of law and order and political malfeasance. His words: There has been public outcry on the continual decline in the quality of education in Nigeria, especially as indicated by the consistent poor performance of pupils in public examinations. The government must attract the best hands to the sector, provide current books and latest journals in school libraries, tailor educational curriculum towards the needs of the country and partner the organised private sector in funding education. Other factors responsible for the decay in the system, according to him, included inadequate funding, recruitment of unqualified teachers, poor or non-existent teaching aids, poor learning environment, low remuneration for teachers, lack of qualitative and current books in libraries, lack of laboratory materials, inconsistent and contradictory policies on education and dishonesty of pupils, parents and teachers among others. Fashola, after her conferment with the polytechnics fellowship award said: I am most humbled by this recognition, coming from an institution that takes pride not only in being the first private polytechnic in Nigeria, but also a citadel of learning committed to maintaining high standards in tuition, facilities and equipment. There is no gainsaying the fact that education is the bedrock of development and the most enduring legacy that can be bequeathed to the youths. If we truly desire a brighter rewarding future and greatness for our nation and generation coming behind, we need to equip our youths with sound and functional education that will enable them compete favourably in the present global system driven by knowledge and ideas.
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