Second Republic Special Adviser to President Shehu Shagari, Patrick Utomi, has revealed tools the Federal Government can use to fight poverty and drive development in the country.
According to the political economist, the Federal Government must retool the educational system in Nigeria to fight poverty and drive national development.
Utomi made the disclosure during an interactive session with newsmen in Enugu on Thursday.
He stated that he had been sharing the ideas with some Nigerian leaders, particularly State Governors.
According to him, Nigerians have been battling severe economic hardship since the removal of the petrol subsidy, which increased the prices of food and other commodities.
Data from the World Bank had stated the poverty rate in Nigeria increased to 46 per cent in 2023, representing 104 million poor Nigerians.
Speaking on the rate of poverty in the country, Utomi said Nigeria could reverse the poverty trend if leaders structure its educational curriculum to allow the acquisition of skills and knowledge based on existing resources in various states and regions.
He emphasized that such education would stimulate a “re-invention of manufacturing” in Nigeria and Africa. And it will also engender stronger economies like those of Germany and China.
He said, “In my view, Nigeria has to identify their factor endowments. And (determine) which factor endowments they want to build value chains off of.
“Take agricultural endowments for instance. Now, if a State or region in Nigeria wants to focus on certain endowment and become dominant global players on its value chain, like sesame seeds which grow well in north-central Nigeria,” he said.
“At primary school level in such a state or region, their curriculum should be structured in such a way that every pupil there knows enough about how to grow and manage sesame seeds.”
Utomi, therefore, stressed that the pupils can continue to study and learn more about sesame seeds. And consequently, become experts in the processing, production and manufacturing of sesame seeds.
According to him, this will help Nigeria become a global player in various value chains. And also help the country strengthen its economy by exporting the produce.
Utomi also pointed out that Nigeria should consider formalizing apprenticeship. He said, this will help to fight poverty and stimulate economic development.
According to him, Nigeria would profit “significantly” if apprenticeship was allowed to start from the secondary school level. Where students would acquire a particular skill, which they would use to sustain themselves.
He said, “Some skills are as simple as plumbing. Nigerians are limited in their capacity to do plumbing works or tiling.
“So, if we can have that dual educational system that significantly incorporates skilling, we can produce better technicians – electrical or mechanical.”
“We can also produce better plumbers and better carpenters in our factories. It is going to be more efficient and competitive than if we did not have those skills.”
Utomi, therefore, challenged Nigerian leaders to stop fighting over political power. He warned them against relying on monthly allocations but to focus on utilizing Nigeria’s untapped endowments to develop the country.
source: Premium Times
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