By Suleiman Anyalewechi
President, Dangote Conglomerate, Aliko Dangote, has called for the re-evaluation and modification of the country’s education sector to align it with the global vision of the production of human assets, adding that the system as presently constituted does not prioritize the production of skilled and knowledgeable workforce..
Alhaji Dangote who spoke on Friday March 1, 2024, during a lecture presentation, as part of activities lined up for the 38th Convocation ceremony of the Bayero University Kano BUK, harped on the need for the country to lay emphasis on nurturing and leveraging a sustainable knowledge economy through investment in education and skill development.
Dangote, one of the acclaimed richest people on the African continent and globally who was represented at the lecture with the theme” Role of The Private Sector In Building A Sustainable Knowledge Economy in Nigeria” by Engr Mansur Ahmed, faulted the present educational system for its lack of production of graduates with excellent qualifications and necessary skills needed for a knowledge driven economy .
“We have thousands of graduates on yearly basis, but selecting those with the requisite skills is often a tough task.
“The Educational system should incorporate findings from the Research Institutions in their programmes as well as other relevant management skills that would equip students for excellence after studies.” Dangote stated
He blamed shortage of required skill and knowledgeable workforce as one the reasons preventing many firms operating in the country from achieving desired goals,adding that for knowledge economy to to grow, there must be a significant investment in the education sector with emphasis on research ,information and technology ,innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Vice Chancellor of BUK , Prof Sagir Adamu Abbas appreciated Dangote who is a scion of Kano,for singlehandedly building and donating the BUK Dangote Business School .
“In deed the establishment of Dangote Business School has added a lot of value to the BUK, with the school moving on from strength to strength, as well as making a name beyond the shores of Nigeria.”
