By Patience Santos

The Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED) has urged the Nigerian government to revamp the education system to address the country’s challenges effectively.

During the fourth African Education Conference titled ‘Reconstructing for Inclusivity and Purpose,’ held in Lagos, Mr. Orji Emmanuel, the National President of AFED, emphasized the need to reconstruct education with a problem-solving and purposeful approach.

Mr. Emmanuel stated that despite Nigeria’s existence for over 60 years, the education system has not adequately met the nation’s needs or solved its problems. He called for an inclusive education plan that aligns with real-world workplace requirements, tailored to suit the country’s specific purposes. The focus should be on creating a curriculum that serves a meaningful role in society.

Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, a former Special Adviser on Education to the Ogun State government, addressed the challenge of providing functional education for the masses. She emphasized that functional education goes beyond academics and should encompass various skills necessary for thriving in the 21st-century job market. Mrs. Soyombo stressed the importance of training teachers and supporting parents to meet the needs of the current generation of learners.

Furthermore, she advocated for a thorough review of the curriculum, extending it to tertiary education to ensure relevance and effectiveness.

Abiodun Oladipo, the Head of Programmes at the DAWN Commission, added that he hoped to see increased collaboration among school owners in the South-West States to further improve education in the region.