By Our correspondent
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has advocated a collaboration between the private sector and Nigerian universities in shaping academic curricula to promote investment in talents and innovation.
TheNewsZenith reports that the Chairman of NESG, Mr Olaniyi Yusuf, made the call while speaking at the 2023/2024 Annual Lecture of the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Lagos.
Yusuf spoke on “Innovative Strategies: Harnessing the Power of Collaboration between Postgraduate Education and Private Sector for Sustainable Economic Growth”.
According to him, joint research projects between the two sectors will promote sustainable economic growth and development.
“Academic curricula should incorporate practical skills and knowledge through real-world problems and case studies.
“Establishing this with industry stakeholders is essential to keep educational programmes aligned with industry trends and technological advancements,” TheNewsZenith quotes Yusuf as saying.
The NESG chairman noted that many Nigerian universities were suffering from underfunding.
He added that underfunding was limiting the ability of the universities to invest in research and development programmes.
“Those programmes are essential to attract private sector collaboration.
“We need to create funding programmes to establish joint initiatives that will encourage co-investment from academia, alumni and industry.
“Tertiary education is essential for personal development and societal progress, especially in the context of Nigerian economy,” Yusuf said.
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Dr John Momoh, Chairman of Channels Media Group, remarked that the role of education could not be underestimated in the country.
Mommoh, the chairman of the occasion, noted that postgraduate school had helped to cultivate advanced knowledge and critical thinking to develop the country.
“Private sector is the engine of economic growth. This is why collaboration between universities and research institutions is important.
“We need more innovations from the two sectors which research must drive. The future of our nation depends on the decisions we make now,” TheNewsZenith quotes Mommoh as saying.
Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, remarkedd that the theme of the lecture was timely and transformative.
Ogunsola said there was a need to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice.
“Indeed, the power of education lies not only in the acquisition of knowledge but its application to solve world problems. It also inspires change to create a better future.
“Tertiary education is changing rapidly. We have to be more intentional in meeting the country’s developmental needs,” the VC said.
Also speaking, Prof. Abraham Osinubi, Dean of the School of Postgraduate, said the theme of the lecture was a clarion call for action.
Osinubi added that there was the need to forge a path for a future where knowledge would meet enterprise. And academic rigours would translate such knowledge into economic resilience.
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