Nigeria should raise its education budget to meet the UNESCO benchmark of 15–20 percent, far above the current 7 percent allocation.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, made the call on Tuesday while delivering the 13th Convocation Lecture at Nile University, Abuja. His lecture, titled “Redefining the Nigerian Education System for the 21st Century Workforce,” emphasized that increased investment is essential for modernising Nigeria’s education system.
Echono said adequate funding would help equip institutions with digital tools, modern laboratories and qualified instructors. He referenced Rwanda and Kenya, which allocated 18 percent and 16 percent of their budgets to education in 2021, resulting in notable progress.
He stressed that Nigeria’s curriculum remains outdated and disconnected from global workforce demands.
“Current curricula do not reflect the job market needs of the 21st century,” he said, calling for the integration of digital literacy, entrepreneurship, data science, AI, renewable energy, and financial literacy into all levels of schooling.
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Echono noted that although universities produce thousands of graduates annually, youth unemployment continues to surge because the education system is “misaligned” with labour market realities.
He advocated for ICT integration, strong teacher development frameworks, and entrepreneurship training to equip graduates as job creators rather than seekers.
On vocational and technical training, he said Nigeria must learn from countries like Germany and South Korea, which have successfully implemented dual education systems that combine theory with practical training.
He praised the National Skill Qualification Framework and new federal initiatives aimed at strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
Echono also highlighted the importance of STEM education in fostering creativity, problem-solving and innovation.
Earlier, Nile University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dilli Dogo warned that nearly half of current executive jobs could disappear within two years, stressing the need for innovation and creative thinking among graduates.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of Salem University, Lokoja, Prof. Alewo Akubo, has urged governments to complement efforts of private universities in terms of infrastructure development as well as tax reduction.
Akubo, who made the call in a pre‑convocation news conference on Tuesday, emphasised that private universities required deliberate government backing to thrive.
He highlighted the institution’s remarkable achievements and charted a bold course for the future ahead of the university’s Seventh Convocation Ceremony.
He noted that Salem University prided itself on high‑quality human resources and capital development, maintained regular and uninterrupted academic sessions, and ensuring students graduated on schedule.
He reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to sustaining and improving its achievements for the benefit of the people, the state, and Nigeria at large.
He disclosed that the institution’s seventh convocation, would produce 168 graduates, comprising four First class, 93 Second Class Upper 31 Second Lower, eight Third Class, and other Postgraduates.
He commended the media for its continuous support and partnership in projecting the image of the institution and urged it to sustain and improve the collaboration.
He disclosed that key Kogi government officials—including Gov. Ahmed Ododo, the Secretary to Kogi Government and several commissioners—are currently enrolled in or have graduated from Salem university, underscoring the trust placed in the institution.
He noted that the institution has secured approval to begin the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery programme, positioning it as a rising hub for medical training in North‑Central Nigeria.
Full approval and commencement of Postgraduate Diploma, Masters and Ph.D. programmes in Biochemistry, Mass Communication, Law, International Relations, and more, attracting candidates nationwide and abroad.
He said the university is set to introduce Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, Architectural and Environmental Science programmes to broaden innovation and research opportunities.
Akubo declared that Salem university aims to become a world‑class institution known for cutting‑edge research, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
He emphasised strengthening international collaborations and establishing centers of excellence that would redefine higher education in Africa.
He appealed to the Kogi government to invest in the university and in health‑care initiatives, citing recent approval of a N300,000 special fund for medical doctors as a step in the right direction.
He thanked Ododo for his continued goodwill, and for creating enabling environment in terms of adequate security for the institution.
Akubo commended the founding Chancellor, Dr Sam Amaga, describing him as a “living legend” whose “unwavering integrity, boundless compassion, and extraordinary sacrifice” turned a dream into a thriving citadel of learning.
He noted that Salem university graduates—dubbed “Change Agents”—had been praised for their integrity, competence, good morals and leadership potential across sectors such as public administration, media, business, technology, and education.
