Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN) has disclosed that many graduates from Nigerian universities cannot write application letters for employment.
Egbewole, a Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law, says a lot of incalculable damage had been done to attaining quality education in Nigeria such that a total overhaul of the system is now urgently required to put the rot in order.
The Vice-Chancellor spoke at the weekend at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) while giving a convocation lecture, titled, “Learning is Schooling Plus” held at the campus of the institution, Oye-Ekiti.
He submitted that a good number of graduates are displaying certificates they either cannot defend, or match with character and creativity.
“Some of our educational institutions have produced graduates who compare favourably with their peers in other parts of the world and are making waves, but it is also true that they have produced graduates who have not measured up to standard.
“We are familiar with the stories of graduates who are unable to write ordinary application letters for unemployment.
“There are also instances where some are unable to identify the core issues in the courses they studied, let alone explain them.
“There are also cases of graduates who are so educationally vapid, to the extent that they are adjudged not to be trainable, and therefore, not employable”.
He stressed the need to stop confusing teaching with learning and stop the wrong notion that only schools can offer education and that skills and knowledge acquisition are only reliable if it is done formally in a traditional school setting.
The University don explained that “The goal of education should be to generate compassionate and creative students who will contribute to the development and maintenance of a just society”.
Egbewole argued that there is growing evidence that educational institutions in the country have not inculcated the virtues, character and respect in their students.
He called for the reinvention of Nigeria’s school curriculum, as part of the solutions to rejuvenating standards in the nation’s education system.
