I just finished a discussion with my next door neighbor on education and some issues facing Nigeria. Straight to the point, the education system in Nigeria is nose diving at an alarming rate. I told him a story about a woman who was requesting for a place to train her son on computer programming. Her son just graduated with a Bachelor’s degree  in computer science and yet needed an extra training. This is to say, he wasn’t taught anything much about programming while in School.

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.

Malcolm X

I once applied for a role as a webmaster – which I learnt on my own – with other computer science students. I didn’t study computer science but I learned on my own with online resources. We finished the interview and I was given the job because I  did better than the other students. Now, I was a bit surprised because I expected them as computer science students to be more knowledgeable than myself, but to my greatest surprise it wasn’t so.

Back to our discussion with my neighbor, he said “in the US, there is free quality education” Now I  know why some people try to make their children US citizens by giving birth there. I said to him “I read a book (My vision) by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and I am not surprised by the level of development taking place in the United Arab Emirates because of the way he thinks as a leader” my neighbor added  “I have also read the book and it is really amazing to see what they have achieved”

The educational problem in Nigeria is a leadership problem. The quality of thinking amongst leaders about education is so sad. On the flip side, to get a quality education in Nigeria is way too expensive because the best is privately owned. The cost of Private Institutions is on a high side; though the offer to an extent sound education. Every right thinking parent would want their wards to have the best but not everyone can afford it.

We must pay close attention to the future of education in Nigeria if we want to develop as a Nation. Conscious efforts have to be made to allocate the right resources to move our educational system forward. Quality education should be at the helm of affairs.

Determination, strategy and vision for the future are our real resources in the quest for excellence and success

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Let me know your thoughts.

To be continued…