Graduate Unemployment: Nwifuru Advocates Practical Education, Seeks UNDP's Collaboration In Sector Reforms. 

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state has restated that his vision for establishing a university of Information and Communications Technology in Ebonyi state is to create an academic innovation centre where theory gives way to practical skills.

The governor made the remark Tuesday while addressing the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Ms Elsie Attafuah in his office.

The Resident Representative and her team were in the Governor's office on a courtesy visit.

Governor Nwifuru explained that graduate unemployment in Nigeria cannot be tackled if we continue with our present educational curriculum devoid of real practical, entrepreneurial and skills development for the young people. He regretted that the country's universities' academic curricula is so cumbersome, giving much more time to language development and rhetorics and less time to real professional and practical training which are essential for both individual and national economic development.

The Governor stressed that the ICT University is designed in such a way as to enable students acquire both intellectual, practical and technical knowledge concerning all their courses of choice so as to be able to fit into the present day technology-driven economy.

"In the ICT University, if you are studying Computer Science, for instance, you will be taught how to both produce and repair the computer hardware and its associated machines", the Governor stressed.

He called on the UNDP to partner the state in achieving the needed reforms to make education in Ebonyi state particularly, and Nigeria in general, more practical oriented.

He applauded the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) of the UNDP, stating that Ebonyi needs to be fully integrated as a means of furthering its vision and objectives for the youths of the state.

Nwifuru also solicited the collaboration of UNDP in the areas of Agricultural innovations and health reforms, especially in giving attention to assisting the state bridge the gap created by shortage of health manpower and human resources for health.

He further solicited collaboration in the area of reforms in solid mineral exploration, refining and processing which he observed were necessary for industrialisation.

While commending the UNDP for their various interventions, the Governor urged them and other international partners to always align their programmes under the priorities of the state rather than their own choices.

Attafuah, in her remarks said they were motivated to visit the state following the Governor's inspiring presentation during the recent Southeast Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholders’ Forum in Enugu, adding that their visit was to intimate the Governor on the various developmental programmes and activities of the UNDP and seek the state's buy in.

She noted that UNDP has been in development work for over 30 years, deploying expertise and capacity in helping states achieve their developmental goals in areas of Education, Agriculture, health and techonological innovations among others.

Attafuah noted that the UNDP has established centres in many communities and academic institution aimed at encouraging skills development and raising employability of graduates in Nigeria and other countries, adding that there is a great need for paradigm shift in Africa's education system and learning patterns.

She explained that the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) as part of the activities of UNDP exists to support graduates as they navigate complex labour markets to access meaningful work and employment after they graduate, adding that It serves as a bridge connecting fresh graduates to work opportunities that exist within public and private sector entities.

While exposing their possible areas of intervention in the state, including youth engagement, skills development, education, health, agriculture and technology, the Resident representative expressed willingness to collaborate with the state to advane actualisation of the Governor's laudable programmes for the state.

With the Governor to welcome the visitors were principal officers of government and some members of the state executive council including the SSG, Prof. Grace Umezurike; the Chief of Staff, Prof. Emmanuel Echiegu; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ben Uruchi Odo and the Commissioner for Rural Development, Engr. Jude Okpor.

Others included the Commissioner for Education, Donatus Illang and that of Agriculture, Nkechinyere Iyioku, among others.