Education System Needs Comprehensive Review to Align with Industrial Concerns, says Borno Governor Zulum

Professor Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno State, has urged for a comprehensive restructuring of Nigeria’s education system to address the disconnect between educational institutions and the needs of industries.
The governor is concerned that several graduates from higher institutions lacked the necessary technical skills to drive innovation and technological advancement.
The governor made this assertion at Government House in Maiduguri during a courtesy call by Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the managing director and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Many graduates from higher education institutions lack the skills needed to spur innovation and technological growth, which worries Governor Zulum.
Instead of relying on a small number of employment options, he asked NELFUND to evaluate the problem objectively and put measures in place that allow graduates to work for themselves.
Zulum stated “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 labour market and graduates, many of whom are unprepared to work in the industries.”
Zulum further encouraged NELFUND to support entrepreneurship, technical education, and vocational training programs.
“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,” he added.
The governor praised President Bola Tinubu for creating the NELFUND and emphasized how it might greatly lower illiteracy, especially in the Northeast.
He promised to mobilize traditional leaders and chairmen of local governments to spread the word about the program, emphasizing its significance for disadvantaged students who want to continue their studies.
“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 remarked.
Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the managing director and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (Nelfund), emphasized the fund’s goal to address the rising problem of students quitting school because of financial difficulties during the visit.
He pointed out that the loan has no interest and that, once the beneficiary finds work, payback will be 10% of their salary.
Sawyerr was joined by leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and Professor Babagana Gutti, the vice chancellor of Borno State University.