Major political gladiators were forced to draw attention to issues that affect both education and the youth in the recently conducted 2023 Presidential Election.
Regarding this, all four major presidential candidates, having observed that neglecting these two most critical aspects of the nation’s life may be at their peril, dedicated some portions of their manifestos to them.
Before the election, the Nigerian youths were able to force many of their demands down the throats of political parties and politicians to the extent that parties began to give them attention and see it as a necessity to create youth wings and promise to attend to their demands if elected.
What prompted the youth to behave this way was that they were pushed to the wall because of the poor performances of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
When it looked like the two big parties would still not yield ground the youths looked the way of the Labour Party (LP), thinking that it might be the right way to go, having examined and analysed the party’s policies, manifestoes and programmes, and having observed that LP would be an umbrella that will give them shade.
On account of this, both APC and PDP were left to struggle throughout the electioneering, trying to convince the youths that they too can provide cover, but it looked too late; hence the youths moved the other way.
Even though LP lost the presidential election, the youth made an impression that they are a force to reckon with. The impression now places a heavy burden and an enormous responsibility on the APC presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who emerged as the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Neglect
He must now attend to the plight of the youths and revamp the nation’s moribund education sector that is affecting the youths directly. If steps are taken towards revitalising education, so that youths can have access to good things of life, the incoming president may have been able to assuage the grievances of the youths.
Before the democratic experience, the education sector which affects the youths grossly, was struggling and left in a parlous state. It was never given a consideration that would have lifted it from the abyss. Before 1999, and the heyday of military rule, education policies were either drawn to favour a particular zone and to slow down others who were seen to have moved ahead or were left not cared for.
It is common knowledge that students from some geo-political zones are offered admission into the university, irrespective of how low they score in the Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at the expense of other students who parade higher scores, but who, despite their intimidating scores, will still not be admitted because they are not from educationally disadvantaged states.
Besides favouritism, bias and stereotypes that bedevil the sector, it has also been so unlucky to have sound administrators that will formulate good policies which will lead to emancipation.
However, there appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel as the sector looked as if it will jump out of the cesspit of neglect. Beyond 1999, the like of Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Professor Tunde Adeniran, Babalola Borishade, Chinwe Obaji and Ruqqayat Rufai embarked on vibrant policies that sought to lift the sector until recently, the sector seems to have found itself in quandary.
The total neglect which both education and the youth have suffered is placing intense pressure on the incoming Tinubu-led government to battle the myriads of challenges in the sector.
The outgoing government of President Mohammadu Buhari has not fared well going by the challenges facing the sector. The sector which has been bedridden by inadequate funding since 2015 requires adequate attention from the incoming president.
In 2015 when Buhari newly came in, the education sector was allocated N1.79 trillion, representing about 8.8 per cent.
In 2022 he presented N1.18 trillion which fell short of the 15-20 per cent recommended by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
And yet in a manner that dealt a deadly blow to the nation, UNESCO as of October 2022, reported that 20 million children are out of school in Nigeria. Youths are unemployed; graduates are not employable; federal universities are inadequately funded as they battle with crammed lecture rooms, poor infrastructural facilities, poorly remunerated lecturers; and deplorable accommodation, while both the primary and secondary education are also left in total disrepute.
ASUU Strike
In a bid to agitate for better funding for universities and good living condition for lecturers, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) went on strike for 628 days since the inception of the Buhari administration as reported by International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).
Whether their demands will be met by the incoming president remains to be seen, even though the president-elect, Senator Tinubu promised in his acceptance speech that his administration will end the culture of strikes in the Nigerian universities and pay attention to education, as well as grant autonomy to universities.
He has equally promised the youths during the speech, “I heard you loud and clear. I understand your pains, and your yearning for good governance, a functional economy and a safe nation that protects you and your future.
” I am aware that for many of you, Nigeria has become a place of abiding challenges limiting your ability to see a bright future for yourselves. Remodelling our precious national home requires the harmonious efforts of all of us, especially the youths.”
Tinubu’s manifesto among others also encapsulates building Nigeria, especially for the youth, where sufficient jobs with decent wages create a better life.
Analysts believe that the incoming president must increase funding to the education sector; combat examination malpractices; establish more vocational and technical education centres, set up independent inspectorate committees and give free education.
Tasks for the In-coming Administrationย
He promised to support youths by harnessing emerging sectors such as the digital economy, entertainment and culture, tourism and others to build the Nigeria of tomorrow.
Analysts believe that the incoming president must increase funding to the education sector; combat examination malpractices; establish more vocational and technical education centres; set up independent inspectorate committees and give free education.
They observe that the administration will do well if it gives quality training to teachers, give research grants to university lecturers, and improve their welfare and salaries.
In his comment, a public affairs analyst, Oluseyi Oyebisi advised that the new government should find a way to attend to youths’ grievances. “They need a decent job. We must communicate with them by using methods and tools that allow the president to speak directly to them,” he expressed.
Other areas Nigerians believe the incoming administration can improve adequate learning is by bringing back sporting activities to their glorious days at all levels to make students use their God-giving talents.
According to a parent, Segun Ayanwale, a resident in Lagos, โThe state ministry of sports is nothing to write home about despite that sporting activities boost the mental health of the students, attention has not been given to sports.โ
He adds, โThe advent of private schools has done a devastating blow to this. Looking at this direction will be an appropriate thing for the incoming administration to improve the education sector and act as a supplier of sportsmen and women that will represent the country at international meets.
The broad consensus is that the incoming administration has to hit the ground running by tackling all the anomalies confronting the education sector and matching people’s expectations with action. To them, if all these can be addressed students will begin to build confidence in government.
Education Minister since 1999 and Their Exploits
The education sector might be tilting at the precipice, still, some officers who have been appointed to steer the ship of the sector have tried one way or the other to revitalise it but there is a lack of cohesion of agenda as some will only spend a few months only for another to pursue a different programme.
The likes of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Professor Tunde Adeniran, Professor Babalola Aborishade, Chinwe Obaji, Ruqqayat Rufai and Adamu Adamu did their best to turn the sector around.
TUNDE ADENIRAN (June 1999- Jan. 2001)
Professor Tunde Adeniran mainstreamed private universities as well as brought competition into the sector. He placed both the Universal Basic Education (UBE) and National Open University (NOUN) on a sound footing.
BABALOLA ABORISHADE (Feb.2001-June 2003)
Professor Babalola Aborishade was known for his stand against satellite campuses. He made an exploit in providing access to quality education.
CHINWE OBAJI (June 2005- June 2006)
Mrs Chinwe Obaji achieved tremendously in authorising the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). She performed well in basic and higher education, introducing a school feeding programme at the basic level of education. She made quality education a priority, most especially physical resources.\
OBY EZEKWESILI (June 2006 – April 2007)
Dr Oby Ezekwesili demonstrated good political will in reviving mode of operation characteristic of Ministry of Education. Both basic and higher education as a sub sector witnessed reformation as well as dynamism.
FABIAN OSUJI (July 2003- Feb. 2005)
Professor Fabian Osuji was noted for instituting vibrant policy issues in the sector. He did impressively well in higher education. Under his leadership the Universal Basic Education (UBEC) law became prominent in 2004.
SAM EGU (Dec. 2008 – March 2010)
He was popular because of the education roadmap policy formulation. He also made an impact on both basic and higher education.
MALLAM IBRAHIM SHEKARAU (2014-2015)
Time was not on his side when he was minister of education, however he made an impact in basic, adult and non-formal education sub-sectors.
SAYADI ABBA RUMA (June 2006-April 2007)
He sought improvement in basic education.
IGWE AJA NWACHUKWU (June 2007 – Dec. 2008)
He paid more attention to higher education.
RUQQAYAT RUFAI ( April 2010- Sept.2013)
It was during her time that Federal Government collaborated with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to undertake NEEDS Assessment of public universities exercise of 2012.
The 2012 exercise documented the level of rot in Nigerian federal and state universities where she proffered solutions on the step to take to rescue the nation’s university system.
She recorded an impressive performance in basic, post-basic and higher education, as well as allowed access to quality university education. She also produced the 2013 National Policy on Education (NPE), while she also resolved crises arising in the sector.
ADAMU ADAMU (Nov. 2015 to date)
He made exploits in basic, post-basic and adult education. He had a passion for the sector which was why he moved to improve the allocation of funds for the sector in the nation’s budget.
He made sure that counterpart funds for UBE from the state share of the Paris Club refunds were deducted so that accumulated UBEC allocations to the states could be released to respective State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).