David Umahi, the governor of Ebonyi State and chairman of the South-East Governors' Forum, has stated that not everyone should attend university.
Umahi emphasised that borrowing more than N1 trillion to satisfy the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities was unreasonable on the part of the Federal Government, headed by President Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (ret.).
When he welcomed a delegation from the Nigerian Police Trust Fund on Wednesday in Abakaliki, the governor spoke against the backdrop of the ongoing strike by lecturers at the country's universities. Dr. Ben Akabueze was the leader of the delegation.
The governor noted that the country's educational system is poorly defined and added that secondary or vocational education is the type of fundamental education every country aspires to provide. The governor listed security and education as the two most difficult issues the nation faces.
"Security, health, and education continue to be this nation's primary problems," Umahi said. Let me briefly discuss education, which falls under our public purview. I believe that our educational system needs to be better developed.
"The reality is that not everyone is a good fit for a university education. Secondary education and vocational training comprise the fundamental education that every nation aspires to provide.
These are the fundamental institutions, and once you have graduated from them, you can use your credentials to find work or to launch your own business.
"Our educational system needs to be reviewed. It must not apply to all people. It makes no difference that I have a first degree and my deputy has a PhD; I'm not ashamed of either. You bring something to the table. I fail to see how we can resolve this issue regarding the ASUU strike without first sitting down with its leaders.
"I have read about how students can get into trouble by staying at home or engaging in activities to keep themselves occupied rather than attending class on social media and in the news.
"It is completely unreasonable for Nigeria to borrow N1.1 trillion to satisfy ASUU's demands. Are these demands legitimate? Yes, but we can start off slowly.
Consequently, it is crucial that both ASUU and those negotiating on the government's behalf demonstrate some understanding. To save our children's future, let's compromise and open the schools.