Gov Zulum and Sawyer at Government House Maiduguri
Gov. Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s education system to address the disconnect between educational institutions and the needs of industries.
A statement issued on Saturday in Maiduguri by Dauda Iliya, the spokesperson to the governor, said Gov. Zulum made the call while receiving the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, who paid him a courtesy at the Government House, Maiduguri.
Zulum expressed concern that many graduates produced by higher institutions lack the necessary skills to drive innovation and technological advancement.
He urged NELFUND to critically assess the issue and implement solutions that enable graduates to become self-employed rather than depend on limited job opportunities.
“We have two major problems in our educational system: the mismatch between educational institutions and industries, as they do not communicate effectively, and the mismatch between the labor market and graduates, many of whom are unprepared to work in the industries,” Zulum stated.
Zulum further encouraged NELFUND to support entrepreneurship, technical education, and vocational training programmes.
“Beyond offering loans, I urge you to explore ways to support entrepreneurship education and promote technical and vocational training to reduce the reluctance toward these critical areas of study,” the governor added.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing NELFUND, emphasizing its potential to significantly reduce illiteracy, particularly in the North East region.
Zulum pledged to mobilize local government chairmen and traditional rulers to raise awareness about the programme, noting its importance for underprivileged students who wish to pursue higher education.
“I have held discussions with heads of tertiary institutions since you assumed office, and reports indicate that a significant number of students who applied for NELFUND loans received them with ease,” Zulum said.
During the visit, the MD/CEO of NELFUND, Sawyerr, highlighted the fund’s mission to tackle the growing issue of students dropping out due to financial constraints.
He noted that the loan is interest-free, with repayment set at 10% of the recipient’s income upon securing employment.
Sawyerr was accompanied on the visit by the Vice Chancellor of the Borno State University, Prof. Babagana Gutti, and representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
