UNDERSTANDING 21ST CENTURY CULTURAL CHANGES: THE CHALLENGE OF THE AFRICAN STUDENT I
“Nigerian graduates are
unemployable” -
Okonjo iweala
“In as much as the Nigerian education system has not been wired to meet the demands of the 21st century students (Undergraduates and Graduates) to foster youth and economic productivity, I believe not all graduates are unemployable. Infact, Unemployability in itself is a mindset phenomenon.” - Obele Gospel Jesuite
Life in the 21st century as has been discussed previously, has a commitment to the social and economic renaissance of Africa.
The average undergraduate is
committed with a view of coming out to make a meaning for themselves in a
firstly competitive world. You must understand that the relevance of our
tomorrow families, institutions, businesses, Nation and continent as a whole is
frankly dependent on the sanity and balance of individuals in the institutions.
The call is for them to tackle the responsibility that will inevitably fall
upon them whether they are ready or not.
As a student you must know that what is coming will come, but its who you are that makes the difference. Definitely, all undergraduates and students would leave the system someday to meet the challenges of the outside world. The challenge basically is how ready are we to meet the odds that confront us.
As a 21st century Nigerian or African student, you must realise and understand you are a decade or more behind the developed world, and as globalization eases the free-flow of goods, persons and services, you would no doubt be compelled to compete eventually with your counterpart in developed and advanced nations. It’s quite unfortunate for us that the universities which are instituted to arm you with the requisite tools to live an effective and productive life is ill equipped to do so. The growing disparity between academic school curricular and the needs and challenges of an ever changing global economy are making the undergraduate less relevant in today world. Our institutions are out-modelled, our universities are like teachers trying to teach students the use of modern day computer with the mainframe. Taking a visit to our science laboratories, you would understand how disadvantaged we are in an age where science and technology is a key determinant of success and significance. Nigeria currently ranks one of the least literate nations in science and math in the world. Only less than one third of our university graduates today are in anyway ready of the challenges of work.
The problems inherent in our society today are suppose to be platforms for new innovations and opportunities for advancement, but we have been incapacitated so far, trained to cram academic theory postulated ages ago and never worked in the Nigerian/African economy.
“Education in Nigeria is neither an end nor a means to an end” - Uzoigwe Daniel Chimezie.
The average university environment in this part of the world has become a platform for tussle for grades, certificates, political nuisance, whoredom, depreciating character of students, teaching methodology, unskilled lecturers etc. we have lost the value of mentorship, coaching, skill acquisition, freedom to explore your given potentials. To me, it’s a complete world of illusion in all facets.
Every student is a product of a
teacher and all the system has to offer, if you say your future leaders
(undergraduates and graduates) are unskilled and incapacitated, then it
questions the capacity of teachers and the system as a whole.
We need to step up our game with the right skills and toolset to make ourselves globally competitive and more importantly, for a productive future.
Join me next Monday as we explore
the way out of this, and fix this puzzle ourselves. Remember only Africans can save
Africa. Have a great week Ahead!
Obele Gospel Jesuite is the Chief Responsibility Officer- Project Change Initiative (PCI), and a proud 21st century development economist. He can be reached at 08130070991, Gospel_obele@yahoo.com
