An educationist, Pa Olusegun Shobowale, has tasked the government and private stakeholders to prioritise education investments that focus on skill-building over profit-making.
Speaking at the Reconnect Essay Competition and Award Ceremony which featured 130 pupils from public schools across Coker-Aguda (Surulere), Shomolu, and Lekki area of Lagos, Shobowale emphasized the need to teach practical and survival skills from primary to tertiary levels.
He stated that, “Education tailored for survival and functionality empowers citizens to thrive in a diverse environment.”
While citing countries like China as examples of nations achieving high productivity through such an approach, he added that adopting skill-based learning could transition students from traditional job-seeking to entrepreneurial or independent ventures.
Shobowale also highlighted the importance of continuous learning to improve classroom experiences and ensure quality education, saying, “Without consistent updates to teaching methods, the quality of education stagnates, hampering the nation’s ability to embrace new ideas and achieve progress.”
The president/ convener, My Reconnect Essay Competition, Prof Azeez Butali, shared similar opinions, noting that literacy is the foundation for success.
“We are doing this essay competition because we believe that if a child can read and write, there is a good chance that child will be successful. Education is the foundation for a wonderful future,” he said.
Butali detailed how “My Reconnect”, a community-based organisation, supports schools through infrastructure projects such as renovating facilities, providing generators, restocking libraries and supporting sports events in the Coker-Aguda area.
He, however, announced an ambitious plan to expand the competition nationwide within the next five years, saying, “The plan is to host a nationwide essay competition for primary schools. We’ll do regional rounds, with the final event in Lagos or Abuja,” he stated.
The 2024 Reconnect Essay Competition was celebrated as a resounding success, with winners receiving writing materials, school bags, and laptops for their schools.
A special recognition award was presented to Pa Olusegun Shobowale in honour of his five decades of dedication to transforming lives through education.
