Federal Polytechnic Ukana: Rector identifies functional education as panacea for sustainable development in Nigeria
The Rector, Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Dr. Uduak Sunday Ukekpe has identified functional education as a recipe to reduce high rate of unemployment exand poverty among Nigerian youths.
The Polytechnic boss stated this while delivering a keynote address on the topic “Functional Education For Self- Reliance” at the 2021 Ika Youth Summit in commemoration of IKA at 25 celebration held at the Unity Hall Urua Inyang, Ika L.G.A.
Dr. Ukekpe said the strategy is a sure path to economic prosperity and empowerment to Ika youths adding that skill acquisition and entrepreneurial education are essential for sustainable development in Nigeria.
“”No country can fight its way out of unemployment among the youths without deliberately towing the part of entrepreneurship which comes as a result of Self- Reliance
“Getting a degree is beautiful but being able to apply knowledge, creativity, innovation to meet human needs is what will provide food on your table and other needs ” he said.
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According to him, “most 21st Century graduates are beginning to conclude that the time spent in the classes in educational institutions is a waste as a result of the unemployment rate but one way of changing the narrative and reframing the mind of the youths is by retooling the type of education available for the youths.””
“The question of unemployment can be answered if every youth can ask themselves questions like, what can I do for myself before the job comes? look around at the environment and ask, is there any problem I can solve that will be marketable? propose and then get themselves out of poverty and become employers of labour when they expand their enterprise” he added.
Earlier, in an opening speech, the Executive Chairman of IKA Local Government Area, His Excellency Malachy Ukpeh who was represented by the Media Aid to the Executive Chairman of IKA, Mr Charles Essien described the dire unemployment and limited economic opportunities situation facing Nigerian youths as an existential challenge and potent threat to the the people of IKA and the country.
He commended the effort of IKA youths in organising the summit and also hailed the distinguished guest who despite their busy schedules deem it necessary to grace the August event.
“I enjoin everyone to take seriously all that will be said by the keynote speaker and other guest speakers as we intend raise youths with entrepreneurship mindset and not those who are in desperate search of greener pastures” he said.
According to him, urgent attention was required to help reverse the trend and restore hope to the young people in IKA and solving this problem means towing the path of Entrepreneurship, hence this event ” he added.
Other key speakers at the IKA Youth Summit included the Senior Lecturer at Rivers State University and CEO APEX Educational Services Limited, Dr Moses Udoisoh, Miss Akwa Ibom USA, Miss Mercy Otu, among others.
In a vote of thanks, the Presidential Advisory Committee Chairman (PAC) Faculty of Engineering, University of Uyo, Comrade Iberedem Abia, thanked the guest speakers for honouring the invitation, he proposed that 29th day of every year should be marked as IKA Youth Summit Day.
“Together as a people we can identify error of the past, together as a people we can erase them and together as a people we can secure a future for IKA as a home tomorrow” he said.
The event also featured extensive lecture, and provided an opportunity for a rich exchange of views and ideas on innovative solutions to issues of relevance to IKA youths.
