OUR EDUCATION

There are over 300 institutions of higher learning in Nigeria yet we are still unable to compete globally in the fields of medicine, engineering, information technology, agriculture and aerospace. This begs the question, 'what exactly are we not doing right? ' Could it be the fault of the teachers? Could it be the fault of the students? Could it be the fault of the government? Or could it be the fault of the nation at large?

There is actually a very straight forward answer. We are all to blame for this current situation. The average Nigerian student is smart, selfless, creative and ready to create the best out of the available resources around them. Every year graduates are made to do project works that signify the completion of their time as undergraduates in school. Often times most students come up with so many creative ideas but are faced with financial challenges. A lot of us have very wonderful ideas in our heads that will probably never see the light of the day as a result of poverty and lack of interest our people show towards innovation.

The best place one can be is the University environment. The academic environment is second to none, a place where we meet like minded individuals that have plans to make the world a better place for all.

The fact that we live in a society that does not care about education and innovation has led to the rapid decline in our standard of education.

A major challenge facing us as a people is the fact that we separate education from life. We go to school to get educated in other to live a better life but that is not the case most times. I am an agricultural engineering student and I know what I see in school. Students have made so many machines that can rapidly boost our agricultural production as a nation if given the chance to go public. Although not very sophisticated, they are still far better that the crude implements that are currently in use.

Our universities are very close to each other yet seem so far apart because of lack of interest by all the parties involved to take that necessary leap of faith. We are poor as a nation and as students but we should try to work together to help our country grow technologically. Without rapid technological advancements, we will be left behind in the near future.