BY: NEWS EDITOR
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has emphasized the need for a comprehensive review of Nigeria's education system.
The governor's statement comes as a response to the growing disconnect between educational institutions and the needs of industries.
During a courtesy visit by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, Gov. Zulum expressed concern that many graduates lack the necessary skills to drive innovation and technological advancement.
He urged NELFUND to assess the issue and implement solutions that enable graduates to become self-employed.
The governor identified two major problems in Nigeria's educational system: the mismatch between educational institutions and industries, and the mismatch between the labor market and graduates.
He encouraged NELFUND to support entrepreneurship, technical education, and vocational training programs to address these issues.
The governor commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing NELFUND, which has the potential to reduce illiteracy in the North East region.
He pledged to mobilize local government chairmen and traditional rulers to raise awareness about the program.
Mr. Sawyerr highlighted NELFUND's mission to tackle the issue of students dropping out due to financial constraints.
He noted that the loan is interest-free, with repayment set at 10% of the recipient's income upon securing employment.